November 28, 2001

'19'

        The export of Indian silk readymade garments during April-August, 2001 amounted to Rs. 232.24 crore as against Rs. 336.31 crores worth of silk garments exported during the corresponding period of previous year and registered a decrease of 30.90% in terms of value. This declining trend seem to be mainly the result of the recessionary trend in internal markets.

        Government is taking several steps to increase the exports of silk products. It is providing assistance to the Indian Silk Export Promotion Council, Mumbai for undertaking various export promotion activities such as participation in international fairs, organising generic promotion stalls in domestic fairs like TexStyles India, Publicity in foreign trade magazines, publication of magaine ‘silk India’ and colour forecast card for domestic silk manufacturers, dissemination of overseas trade information among exporters, etc.

        Government has also rationalised value addition/Input-output norms specified under the Exim Policy extended to exporters, the facility of duty free import of raw material under the Advance Licensing Scheme, import of capital goods at concessional rate of duty for export products.

        For technological upgradation of the industry, loan at 5% point less than applicable rate, under the Technological Upgradation Fund Scheme for the Textiles sector is available inter alia to the silk sector.

        Government have initiated a production programme of high quality bivoltine silk to improve quality of Indian silk and increase its productivity and cost competitiveness.

        The import of raw silk has been liberalised by being brought under OGL, which has increase availability of good quality silk.

        This information was given by the Minister of State for Textiles, Mr. V. Dhananjaya Kumar in a written reply to a question by Janeshwar Mishra today in Rajya Sabha.