The Indian State of Tamil Nadu has announced plans to build a textile city near Chennai, according to Tamil Nadu’s Minister of Handlooms and Textiles, R Gandhi. The announcement was made during his presentation of a Handlooms, Handicrafts, Textiles and Khadi Policy Note in the state assembly.
The State Government has also introduced 22 policy measures for the handloom and textile sectors, including the creation of a Tamil Nadu Pavilion in major international exhibitions to increase market opportunities and boost the Tamil Nadu brand. Additionally, the government has allocated funds for convening an international technical textile conference, R&D facilities, workshops, and skill development for technical textiles.
The Minister also announced various steps to support the handlooms sector, such as training and development for young handloom entrepreneurs, the establishment of the Dr. Kalaignar Karunanidhi Centenary Handloom Park at Arani, and the encouragement of the handloom sector to switch over to package dyeing with zero liquid discharge facilities. The government will also modernise handlooms, conduct market surveys, and promote the Tamil Nadu handloom brand.
Ravi Sam, Chairman of the Southern India Mills Association (SIMA), thanked the State Government for the initiatives towards strategic shift in the Tamil Nadu textile sector. He also welcomed the various unique policies announced for the handloom sector. Sam has said that all these policy initiatives would strengthen the whole value chain in the textiles and clothing industry in the state.
