The Union Minister for Textiles, Shri Kashiram
Rana told the silk exporters to "think large and bold and work
on a strategy that targets selected countries in systematic
and comprehensive manner." He was speaking at the export award
function of the Indian Silk Export Promotion Council (ISEPC)
held here yesterday.
Expressing hope over increase in India’s share
of silk export in international market he suggested a strategy
based on market intelligence, market research, design inputs
and design variety that is intelligently worked out on the basis
of knowledge of both competition and market trend.
Congratulating the award winners and the ISEPC
in its endeavour to promote silk exports, the Minister assured
the Government’s fullest support towards growth of silk industry.
Union Minister of State for Textiles Shri Dhananjaya
Kumar, Secretary textiles Shri S B Mohapatra, Jt. Secretary
Smt. Kiran Dhingra, and other senior officials of the Ministry
were also present at the occasion.
Sri Rana said that in terms of production and
volumes, this commodity may be lagging behind cotton or man-made
fabric but its share in export earnings is rising steadily,
reaching approximately Rs.2500 cores, or about 4% of textile
exports. Value addition by the silk industry, especially the
ratio of capital to value added is the highest. Unit realisation
in exports is as high as Rs.300 per sq. meter. Even more important,
approximately 6 million people find livelihoods due to this
economic activity., mainly those who live in rural and semi
rural areas below the Poverty Line or who belong to the deprived
sectors of the economy. A very large number of them are women.
Silk still continues as a virtual strong hold of the handloom
industry, and the skilled silk weaver remains un-assailed by
the amoeba-like growth of the powerloom sector.
Shri Rana expressed his satisfaction that the
silk exports could withstand the pressure of fall in exports
following the September, 2001 event in New York. He said that
as the recession appears to have levelled out, the expectation
would be for an increase in silk exports in a significant way.
Following the declaration of a programme for
bivotline sericulture, expectations of higher exports have risen
in all quarters. In fact, a successful bivotline development
would imply a whole new orientation to the industry. Presently
the industry has a domestic orientation, and products are mainly
of the handloom sector.
Silk exports are confined to a few 100% EOUs
who depend on imported raw material. With Bivoltine silk, value
addition of cut, fashion, and design would go up significantly
and silk exporters would have the opportunity to a wider share
of the silk market abroad.
However, he warned the industry to respond
in kind to realise the full potential of this technology input
at the farm level and suggested that it should open itself to
technological advancements in reeling and weaving too. Instead
of a household reeling industry and almost exclusive handloom
weaving, it must move to larger and powered processes for bivoltine
silk.
