Textile hubs ready to tap global partnership: CM Devendra Fadnavis

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Efforts are to replicate the success story of Nandgaonpeth textile hub in Marathwada and north Maharashtra. In a clear departure from the past, the government has decided to set up at least 20 textile hubs across the cotton growing districts of Vidarbha, Marathwada and north Maharashtra.

Fadnavis said, “We are emphasising on investments to strengthen the linkages that would take into account the farmer who produces cotton to spinning of yarn to ready-made garments in industrial units, complete with innovative design and marketing.”
Whether it is domestic or global partnership, the dividends would be spread fairly to every stakeholder — from farmers to industrialists — to make textile a robust sector, he said. “Despite being leading cotton growers, our export in this sector has remained in single digits, which needs to be addressed,” Fadnavis said.

A textile hub in a district that cultivates cotton will provide locational advantage by bringing down the overall cost and also uplift farmers in drought-stricken areas, the chief minister said.

“Initiatives to provide water and competitive power tariff remain a challenge, which the government is set to aggressively pursue,” he said.
Accordingly, global and domestic investors coming forward to invest in these belts, will be offered special incentives of up to ten per cent. Apart from these, the self-financing for textile hubs that are not relying on major bank loans would also get special incentives for investment in these backward regions.

The Swedish multinational retail clothing company H&M has expressed willing to tap the textile potential through partnership with the state government. The number of investors queuing up for investments in textile hubs, specially in Vidarbha, has been so overwhelming that some had to be kept on hold till further expansion, Fadnavis said.

“Today, we are processing only 30 per cent of the total cotton cultivated in our state, whereas 70 per cent remains unprocessed due to lack of infrastructure. This results in poor dividends to the farmers and industries. After taking over the government, we have given permission to textile hubs complete with raw material processing to garments units.”

The state is willing to provide all the facilities for textile hubs, he assured. He said, “Maharashtra, with maximum cotton cultivation, can help India become a textile leader in the world.”