The Union government is keen to promote technical textile, increase research and development in the segment and attract investments. This is the view of Union minister of textiles Smriti Irani. She says while technical textile has huge scope for growth in India, R&D needs to improve. She also invited suggestions from the industry so that the government can discuss the issues for right policy action.

Irani lamented she hasn’t got suggestions from any segment of the industry except for Jute. She stressed that her ministry was ready to discuss issues and find a solution. The minister was addressing about 400 delegates in Jaipur for the annual conference of International Textile Manufacturers Federation (ITMF).

Meant for non-consumer applications, technical textile is used in host of industries like construction, automobile, healthcare, and packaging. On a suggestion from delegates that the government should bring in regulation to push various sectors of the industry to use technical textile, the minister said the industry doesn't grow in an atmosphere where there is lot of control.

She said if R&D was not productive, the industry will be isolated. R&D would be fruitful if it is backed by industry. But, she rued the fact that some sections of the industry felt there needs to be cross-sector engagement to promote technical textile. She also came out with the fact that due to rise in wage cost in China, lot of manufacturing capacity have been shifted to countries like Vietnam, Bangladesh and Cambodia.