ChromaTexChem is unique exhibition of colorants and chemicals for textiles and related applications, which was held in Mumbai at Bombay Exhibition Centre, Goregaon on 19th and 20th December. Parallel to this exhibition, a panel discussion was organised on 19th December on the topic “Indian Textile Industry: Poised for the Next Growth Phase”.
Gurudas Aras had the privilege of being a panelist in this August panel which was moderated by Anjani Prasad, Archroma, with my co-panelists Datuk Dr. Anil Rajvanshi, Reliance, Man Mohan Singh, Grasim,KK Lalpuria, Indo Count and Anup Rakshit, ITTA. The co-panelists represented the Fibre, Home Textile and Technical Textile segments, while I talked on the Textile Machinery segment.
Some of the important points highlighted by Gurudas Aras were as follows:
• For achieving the set target of $300 billion textile market size, lot of investment in capacity creation is needed.
• India is losing value addition opportunity due to weak weaving and processing segments.
• India’s present global share of 5.5% can grow if India can move in high value segment and man-made fibre based products with help of latest technology.
• Even for 1% gain in global textile market share, India does not have enough capacity.
• The textile industry cannot grow to attain the goal unless the local textile machinery industry is in a position to support it.
• More than 65% of the textile machinery gets imported mainly in Fibre Production, Weaving, Knitting, Processing, Garmenting and Technical Textiles.
• Unless huge investment is done in manufacturing of these import substitute machines in next 3 to 4 years, project costs will remain high.
• Need of the hour is to bring European and Japanese machinery manufacturers to India through collaboration or Joint Ventures under ‘Make in India’.
• Indian textile machinery makers have taken lot of efforts in last few years to bridge the technology gap with their European counterparts.
• Recycling of materials & resources like water & chemicals, Energy conservation, Sustainable processes, Digitalization in manufacturing with usage of AI and Robotics are the new trends in technology.
• India has the opportunity to become a ‘Global Hub’ of Textile Machinery Manufacturing in the next few years.
