Bengal trying to turn itself into textiles hub
West Bengal can potentially emerge as a major textile hub with the state government unveiling plans for more than a dozen textile parks.
Textile and garment was one of the focus areas at the recent Bengal Global Business Summit in Kolkata. Addressing industry leaders at the summit, said Rajiva Sinha, Principal Secretary, MSME and Textile, announced the launch of 13 Textile Parks under the project Texpro Bengal which would provide industry land, infrastructure, single window clearance, environment compliant infra, power apart from a host of subsides (capital, land, stamp duty, labour, power etc) under the Bengal Textile Policy, 2013.
Sinha said Texpro Bengal is a push to establish West Bengal as a leading destination of globally competitive value-added textile like readymade garments, processed power loom and knitted fabric, technical textile and apparel products for both domestic and international markets.
He said industry has to come forward to assist the government to achieve the desired goal. Sinha also stressed the need for institutionalisation of every plan and programme so that the process is not disturbed in future. He said manufacturers have also equal responsibility with the government to ensure proper growth of the industry and sought their suggestions and ideas for the betterment of the sector.
The 13 textile parks envisage a space of 22.7 million sq ft. The government has received Expressions of Interest (EOIs) for more than 50 per cent of the space offered under Texpro Bengal.
The Bangladeshi delegation also showed interest in investing and leading Chamber FBCCI shared an EOI to shift a planned large distribution depot for Bangladesh Garment Companies from Gujarat to Bengal.
In his presentation, CMAI president, Rahul Mehta pointed out that industry should do away with old perception in every aspect and make them suitable to the present fast developing scenario. He said West Bengal has so many manufacturers, but there is no major brand excepting a few. This is because of fear of being a large one to avoid any complication. He said future of an industry depends on brand at the same time, retail sector has to be standarised through an effective policy.
Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC) Vice Chairman Amit Goyal, in his address ruled out any indifferent attitude of the council towards West Bengal, as alleged by a section of the people, saying that it will provide all possible assistance to the industry in the state for marketing its products in the global market. He also assured the industry leaders for holding some national garment fairs in future in Kolkata to promote the brands from the state.
To provide an enabling ecosystem to support and nurture startups in the state, the West Bengal Government also launched the state startup policy at the Bengal Global Business Summit.
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