Ludhiana( Gurvinder sidhu) MP (Rajya Sabha) from Ludhiana Sanjeev Arora has raised questions on global competitiveness of textile industry in Punjab in the ongoing winter session of Rajya Sabha. He asked about textile exports from Punjab for the last three years, including the export value, number of enterprises involved, and market share in major regions like the US, EU, and the Middle East. He also asked about the steps being taken to diversify markets for Punjab’s textile industry, especially in the wake of changing global trade dynamics and competition from other countries. Besides, he asked about the role of skilled workforce development and advanced textile technology in enhancing the global competitiveness of Punjab’s textile sector.
In a statement issued here on Monday, Arora said answering his questions, the Union Minister of state for Textiles Pabitra Margherita provided details of textile exports (Textile and Apparel including Handicrafts) from Punjab during the last three years. As per this provisional data (rounded off), the export from Punjab during FY 2021-2022 was 2,111.5 USD Million followed by 1,502.2 USD Million in FY 2022-23 and 1,500.4 USD Million during FY 2023-24.
The Minister’s answer mentioned that Ministry of Textiles is implementing (Samarth) – Scheme for Capacity Building in Textiles Sector (SCBTS), with the objective to provide demand driven, placement oriented National Skill Qualification Framework (NSQF) compliant skilling programmes. Further, since April 2021, approximately 800 beneficiaries have been trained under Samarth Scheme from Punjab.
The answer also mentioned that in order to boost export of textiles products, the Government is implementing the Rebate of State and Central Taxes and Levies (RoSCTL) scheme on exports of Apparel/Garments and Made ups to provide support and enhance competitiveness of these sectors. Further, textiles products not covered under the RoSCTL are covered under Remissions of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products (RoDTEP) along with other products. In addition, the Government provides financial support to various Export Promotion Councils and Trade Bodies under the Market Access Initiative Scheme implemented by the Department of Commerce for organising and participating in trade fairs, exhibitions, buyer-seller meets etc at national and international levels.
The Government is implementing various schemes/initiatives to promote Indian textiles in the country including Punjab. The major schemes/initiatives include PM Mega Integrated Textile Regions and Apparel (PM MITRA) Parks Scheme to create a modern, integrated, world class textile infrastructure; Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme focusing on MMF Fabric, MMF Apparel and Technical Textiles to boost large scale manufacturing and enhancing competitiveness; National Technical Textiles Mission focusing on Research Innovation & Development, Promotion and Market Development; Silk Samagra-2 for comprehensive development of sericulture value chain; National Handloom Development Program for end to end support for handloom sector.
The Ministry of Textiles is also implementing the National Handicrafts Development Programme and Comprehensive Handicrafts Cluster Development Scheme for promotion of handicraft.
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