Important Topics: Technical Textiles - The Sunrise Industry

http://www.iasplanner.com/civilservices/images/Technical-Textile.jpgQuestion: What do you understand by Technical Textile. What are its benefits over conventional textile. Analyse the scope of technical textile in emerging as a sunrise industry.

Textiles engineered for specific end-use requirement are called Technical Textile (TT). These textiles are preferred for technical end use over plastics, metals, papers & films due to unique properties, porous structure, light weight, high length to thickness ratio, drapability and many more attributes.

Opportunities and Factors


1. Population hike and used life span, thus great demand of TT in hygiene and healthcare textile.
2. Increase income and hence increased purchasing power of Indian consumer. Therefore, more spending on products of luxury, comfort, improved lifestyle, cleanliness, etc.
3. TT is highly techno-oriented and relatively new, therefore less domestic competition.
4. Higher returns compared to conventional textiles attracts entrepreneurs.
5. Majority of Indian consumers are now well educated because of penetration of internet/TV etc about the benefits of the use of TT and cost effectiveness.
6. Demand of TT depends on growth of particular sector. Therefore, increase in automobile sector has generated demand for automobile textiles and medical tourism for medical textiles.
7. Growing industry demand for certain TT products.
8. India – 2nd largest textile based economy in world, hence strong pressure of entire supply chain, import-export relationships, infrastructure, benefits the TT Sector.
9. Cheap Labour – useful for growth of TT.

Challenges


(1) Lack of speciality of Raw Material: Non-availability of high performance raw material, fibres, yarns, fabric etc. Therefore, importing such materials adds to cost and time.
(2) Lack of Technology: Similar to raw material, technology also imported which adds to cost and time hence affects competitiveness.
(3) Lack of skilled manpower: Being based on complex structure, TT require high inter-disciplinary knowledge and skilled workforce.
(4) Lack of proper norms/standards: Being at infancy stage, norms and standards of many TT products not available or obsolete.
(5) Lack of Awareness: Majority of Indians still lack education and live in rural places and thus are either not aware or can’t afford TT products.
(6) Lack of World Class R&D Facilities: Indian universities/colleges/R&D centres require to invest more to setup world class R&D centres with a clear focus on product oriented R&D.
(7) Lack of Uniform Coding System: In order to identify and distinguish TT products for exports, a uniform coding system for TT (HSN codes) is required.
(8) Lack of well organised TT Sector – Being in SME sector, it is more decentralised than conventional textile manufacturers.
(9) Lack of Business specific Infrastructure: in terms of easy logistics, water, waste disposal, telecommunication, high speed interact, etc.
(10) Competition from global players like China.

Government Initiatives


1. Schemes for Growth and Development of Technical Textiles (SGDTT) was aimed to develop Centres of Excellence (COE’s) to develop awareness about technical textiles. Services offered at COE are — Training, Technical Consultancy, R&D, DPR (Detailed Project Report), Pilot Scale Production, Standard Formulation, Incubation, and Prototype Development.
2. Technology Mission on Technical Textile (TMTT): It is aimed to improve basic infrastructure (like testing facility, R&D, skilled manpower, promotion of entrepreneurs etc.).
3. Focus Incubation Centres – It would be provided to new entrepreneurs until they establish themselves in business, and then they could shift to their own facilities.
4. Schemes promoting usage of Agro textiles and Geotechnical textiles in NE Region.
5. Additionally, several State Governments are also offering incentives to investors and Loan subsidy schemes towards new and upgradation of machinery under TUFS (Techno Upgradation Fund Scheme) and ATUF (Amended Techno Upgradation Fund Scheme).
6. STZP (Scheme of Integrated Textile Parks). Setting up of greenfield industrial park specific to textile sector and designing infrastructure specific to the industrial requirement.
7. Focus Product Scheme for TT (MEIS): To promote TT exports by providing duty credit Scripps.
8. Ministry of Textiles is also working on regulatory norms for TT products which will help to increase demand and consumption.
9. Manufacturing Regions for Textile in Apparel Sector (MRTA) to promote and sustain investments, also for establish of manufacturing facilities for domestic and export led production in apparel and other textile sectors.

Conclusion

  • TT are new emerging areas in field of textiles and India today is at an advantageous position compared to many technical textile manufacturing countries because of unique advantages like lower labour cost, raw material availability, huge domestic market, etc. Adding to this, helpful government policies provide huge opportunity to this sunrise industry.
data-matched-content-ui-type="image_card_stacked"