The Ministry of Textiles recently called for applications to establish a dedicated Export Promotion Council (EPC) specifically for Technical Textiles. This invitation forms part of the National Technical Textiles Mission, aiming to position the country as a global leader in technical textiles.
The Purpose and Role of The Proposed Export Promotion Council
The formation of an Export Promotion Council for Technical Textiles aligns with the broader goals of the National Technical Textiles Mission. The council’s primary function will be to adhere strictly to government directives regarding the promotion and enhancement of international trade.
National Technical Textiles Mission: An Overview
In February 2020, the National Technical Textiles Mission received approval backed by a total financial layout of Rs. 1480 crore. The mission seeks to escalate the use of technical textiles in the domestic market, ideally raising the domestic market size to between USD 40 billion and USD 50 billion by 2024. Implemented over four years commencing in 2020-2021, the mission comprises four components.
The Four Components of the National Technical Textiles Mission
First Component: This section places a strong emphasis on research, development, and innovation and is supported by a budget of Rs. 1,000 crores. This research will be conducted on both fibre level and application-based in various fields, such as geo, agro, medical, sports, and mobile textiles. Additional focus lies on developing biodegradable technical textiles and creating indigenous machinery and process equipment.
Second Component: This part is primarily concerned with the promotion and development of the market for technical textiles.
Third Component: Here, the focus shifts towards export promotion to increase technical textile exports from the country. The goal is to increase these exports from Rs.14,000 crores to Rs. 20,000 crores by 2021-2022, ensuring an average growth of 10% every year until the mission concludes in 2024.
Fourth Component: The final component revolves around education, training, and skill development related to technical textiles. To oversee the implementation of the mission, a Mission Directorate operates within the Ministry of Textiles.
Indian Technical Textiles Segment: A Data Insight
Currently, the Indian Technical Textiles Segment is estimated to be worth 16 billion USD, constituting approximately 6% of the 250 billion USD global technical textiles market. However, the penetration level of technical textiles in India fluctuates between 5% and 10%, significantly lower compared to 30% to 70% in developed nations.
A Deeper Understanding of Technical Textiles
Technical textiles are textile materials and products manufactured primarily for their technical performance and functional properties, rather than aesthetic appeal. They find extensive use across various industries like automobiles, civil engineering, construction, agriculture, healthcare, industrial safety, personal protection, space applications and more.
Technical textiles can be further broken down into twelve segments based on their usage. These include Agrotech, Meditech, Buildtech, Mobiltech, Clothtech, Oekotech, Geotech, Packtech, Hometech, Protech, Indutech, and Sportech. For instance, ‘Mobiltech’ encompasses items used in vehicles like seat belts, airbags, and airplane seats. Meanwhile, ‘Geotech’, the fastest-growing segment, entails products used for soil retention.
