Govt sets up 6 focus incubation centres at Rs 17.4 cr

It will help budding entrepreneurs develop innovative technical textile products & boost manufacturing in the sector

The government has set up six focus incubation centres at a cost of Rs 17.4 crore to help budding entrepreneurs develop innovative technical textile products and boost manufacturing in the sector, Textiles Minister Santosh Kumar Gangwar said on Friday.

Technical textiles can play an important role in the nation's social and economic fronts, he added.

The ministry "has set up six focus incubation centres at a cost of Rs 17.4 crore.These centres would help budding entrepreneurs build innovative technical textile products in a 'plug and play' model, and would help promote 'Make in India' in textiles," he said here at the curtain raiser event of Technotex 2016.

The three-day event, which will start from April 21 in Mumbai, is aimed at making India a manufacturing hub in the area of technical textiles.

The 5th International Exhibition & Conference on Technical Textiles recognizes the immense potential of technical textiles and its increasingly diverse and innovative applications.

Talking about the sector, the Minister said a Rs 427 crore scheme was launched in March last year by the government to promote usage of geotechnical textiles in the north eastern region of the country.

The scheme provides support for use of geotextiles in road construction, slope stabilization and water reservoirs, an official statement quoting the minister said.

Gangwar also said that 44 demonstration centers at a total cost of Rs 8.17 crore have been approved to promote agrotextiles in the region.

Besides, a pilot scheme has been approved to promote agrotextiles in other parts of the country, he said, adding that the Technology Mission on Technical Textiles has been extended for two years -- 2015-2016 and 2016-2017.

The Minister said eight centres of excellence have been set up under the scheme, where facilities for testing, R&D and skill development in technical textiles are being set up.

A capital subsidy of 15 per cent has been provided for technical textile machinery under the amended TUFS scheme, he added.

Technotex, organized by Ministry of Textiles in association with Ficci, is a flagship event comprising an international exhibition, conference, and seminars.

Over 200 exhibitors are expected to participate in the exhibition and international conference Technotex India.

Exhibitors from countries like Korea, Switzerland, Japan, the US, Germany and UK would attend the event.