Textile industry set for machinery data revamp

A crucial meeting of textile industry stakeholders, convened by the Textile Commissioner's office in Mumbai on Tuesday, paved the way for a comprehensive data revamp on the machinery installed across the Indian textile sector. Representatives from prominent textile clusters, including Surat, the India’s largest man-made fibre (MMF) hub, participated in the discussions.

Roop Rashi, the Textile Commissioner, addressed the gathering and announced a new survey to be conducted by her office. The survey aims to gather detailed information on the types and number of machinery currently operational within the Indian textile industry. Emphasising the importance of industry participation, Rashi urged representatives of textile organisations to actively contribute by providing relevant data.

The Southern Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Federation of Indian Art Silk Weaving Industry played a pivotal role by presenting a comprehensive data set on the textile industry and machinery specific to South Gujarat, including Surat. As per their report, the region boasts an impressive textile infrastructure with 6 lakh shuttle looms, 80,000 waterjet looms, 15,000 rapier looms, 6,000 airjet looms, and 1,500 velvet looms, totaling a staggering 7,12,500 looms. Additionally, the data reveals the presence of 350 processing houses, 1.5 lakh embroidery machines, 2,000 warp knitting machines, and 3,500 circular knitting machines. This robust textile ecosystem in Surat and South Gujarat is estimated to generate employment for around 15 lakh people, with women making up a significant portion at 4 lakh.

The need for a fresh survey becomes evident when compared to the data collected by the Textile Commissioner's office in the previous survey conducted during 2011-12. That survey captured information on approximately 24 lakh looms across the country, encompassing both shuttleless and traditional variants. Given the significant growth witnessed in the textile industry, particularly in major hubs like Mumbai, Ichalkaranji, and Gujarat, industry experts anticipate these regions to be prioritised in the upcoming data collection exercise.

This comprehensive data revamp on textile machinery holds immense value for policymakers, industry leaders, and investors alike. The insights gleaned will aid in strategizing future growth plans, identifying areas for modernization, and ultimately, bolstering the competitiveness of the Indian textile sector on the global stage.