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Indian textile industry having long enjoyed protection had not paid sufficient attention to quality and competitiveness. However the SWOT analysis indicates that there exists tremendous potential for growth and development of Indian textile industry, provided technological upgradation and earnest efforts to become internationally competitive are committed. With the emergence of GATT, it is high time India takes things very seriously so that the opportunity of gaining major foot-hold in the global textile markets is not slipped-off.

The critical analysis of the present textile scenario affected by recent policy changes and restructuring in comparison to the one at international Level, professional management skills, technology integration, innovations in diverse product development and futuristic vision are the topics of the papers which are being presented by eminent industrialists, top bureaucrats, expert professional and renowned scientists. The diversity of these topics with united vision of Integration will provide enough stimulating effect.

It is the policy of the government to boost exports and diversify the same in terms of commodity and country coverage. In fact it tries to bridge the country’s yawning trade gap and to bolster foreign exchange reserves.

With the above objectives in mind, the 100% Export Oriented Unit (EOU) scheme started with much fanfare in December 1980. This scheme did not progress till 1987. This was due to the fact that there was no provision for the sale of products or even to process waste, in the domestic tariff area (DTA).

Realising the potentialities of the 100% EOU scheme, in 1987, government announced a number of policy measures which aimed at giving an impetus to exports.

Under this new scheme, 100% EOUs were permitted to set up 25% of their production in DTA, with the purchaser having to pay excise duty, sales tax and other taxes applicable on the goods.

The second attempt to review the scheme was also not successful, due to cumbersome procedures and guidelines to be followed in selling the product in DTA. Hardly there were any takers. Very few companies like Eurotex came forward to take-up this scheme.

The third attempt to review the scheme was made in the year 1991, where series of measures to simplify the procedures were announced as a part of the government’s liberalisation drive. This attempt had desired effect in the minds of takers, 100% EOUs started mushrooming all over the country, thus ushering an ‘ERA OF EOUs’!

It is the time for us to do introspection and accept the fact that there is relatively very low degree of modernisation taken place in our weaving sector making it absolutely difficult to expect production of quality fabrics at a competitive cost which is the need of the hour. There is every likelihood that our own market will be flooded with cheaper goods from neighbouring countries, if no steps are taken towards lowering our production cost of the fabric. Indeed, it calls for strategic planning and integrated approach wherein every stage of manufacture of fabric is given due attention in terms of efficiency of the process, quality of the product, etc.

Sizing plays a paramount role in making of quality fabrics and deserves a significant attention to be paid to this processing stage. Loom efficiency, cost effectiveness and quality of fabric manufactured are greatly dependent on how the sizing process is carried out.

Indian industry, having long enjoyed protection, has not paid sufficient attention to quality and competitiveness. Globalisation of the economy has brought in tremendous potential for the growth and development of industries and commerce in the country. The impact was more felt by the textile industry especially manufacturing yarns for export.

It has been noticed that high incidence of yarn fault is a major concern even in the most modern mills. Hence there is a need for detailed information on identifying the causes of unsatisfactory yarn quality and to arrive at proper selection of raw material, technology, manufacturing conditions and precautions to produce yarn of international quality standards.

The Textile Industry presently too it is still the major, single most foreign exchange earner and holds a key position in the Indian economy. However, activities of Composite Mills in Mumbai have been drastically reduced leaving many units totally closed and many more critically sick. There are of-course a number of reasons for this pathetic situation and to survive in the present day globalised trade, it goes withour saying that total restructuring and modernisation of these Textile Mills is a must. The huge cost of modernisation thus can only be met by developing the surplus land owned by these Textile Mills.The cost of land in Mumbai all these years has skyrocketed and in the recent past it was reported to be the costliest in the World. One of the reports estimates the land value of Textile Mills to the tune of Rs. 15,000 crore. However, it is also a known fact that last two years there has been a considerable decline in land cost in Mumbai as is observed in other metropolis too.

Because of the paucity of funds and dire need of investment for modernisation of Mills, the surplus mill land has attracted a lot of attention from all corners and thus the topic of this seminar “Land Resource – A Remedy to Textile Sickness” has been a most appropriate one.

The liberalisation of economy coupled with globalisation of the trade has put our textile industry in an international competition. The phasing out of the multi fibre arrangement (MFA) by 2005 AD will surely put us in free-for-all competition. The players who are in a position to give maximum attention to productivity, quality and economy will service in such games.

The picture of composite Textile Mills is very much gloomy since this industry is trapped between the machinations of the powerloom sector and the cut-throat competition at the Global level.

How would then, these organised Textile Mills survive in near future? There is no second opinion that they have to go in for modernisation and they have to accept a new role in up-market as a quality producer of speciality fabrics which are in demand on both the fronts – domestic as well as international one. There has been initiative from some of the Mills in this direction and time will decide their impact in relation to the quantity and quality of similar products available Globally not forgetting the cost factor.

The Textile Industry in India is the mother industry and it has given birth over the years to a number of industries since the profit earned out of the textile activities was invested in diversification of the business. Presently, when the economy is liberalised and the globalisation of the trade is bound to stay, this age old industry, deprived of modernisation and lack of sufficient operational finance, is faced with international competition which is rather difficult to withstand. The diversified activities grow and keep pace with the technological advancement taking place on the global level.There are a number of reasons almost known to every conscious player in this filed as to why textile industry is passing presently through a tough weather. However, one thing is sure that when we talk about textiles, the picture comes before us is either woven or knitted textiles and the activities relating to their manufacture and processing and at the most, garment making activities. There is an untapped of tremendous potential in terms of technical textiles or industrial textiles is concerned. Depending upon their application, these technical textiles are called as Agrotech, Buildtech, Geotech, Hometech, Indutech, Medtech, Mobiltech, Sportstech, Protech, etc. You name the field and textile application is sure to be there. When such a situation is prevailing and the textiles are indeed all encompassing.

The consumption of technical textiles and fibres on the global level is estimated about 10 million tonnes, worth about US $ 54 billions. This accounts to about 19% of the fibre used world over. In the period of 1985-1995, the consumption of technical textiles increased by about 54% in terms of quantity and 76% in terms of value. By the year 2005 A.D. the consumption of technical textiles is expected to increase by about 5% per annum. In the transport sector, 4.5 lakhs tonnes of technical textiles is used and it will grow with a rate of 6% per annum especially as the demand for composites is increasing day by day. Geotextile field is also pregnant with growth rate of 9%. The growth of technical textiles will vary from fibre to fibre, type of application and also regions in which they are consumed. But suffice to say that a tremendous promising potential is hidden in the field if technical textiles.

On the occasion of the 55th All India Textile Conference organized by Mumbai Unit of Textile Association (India). Theme of the conference “Emerging Trends on Textile Horizon”. Many authors have taken painstaking efforts in preparing such highly informative and useful papers. In general, the authors’ views include:* Put in efforts to increase the yield of cotton per hectare
* Modernise various sectors for which schemes like TUF and CTM should be availed of
* Enhance the quality with cost reduction, deliver timely and adopt ecofriendly processing
* Designer’s role is that of a therapist
* Make labour intensive industry as “human intensive” being ready to face the new challenge.

The readers can get much clearer understanding of these views once they go through the “Proceedings” and interact with the speakers.

It is time we became globally competitive. Our product quality should be improved and our total outlook needs to be changed. The Indian textile industry very soon will undergo rapid modernisation and restructuring. The rationalisation of labour will be the need of the day. The new textile policy will any time be declared. The phasing out of MFA in the year 2005 will push the Indian textile industry into fierce competition. Newer trade blocks are getting crystallised. Indeed it is the dawn of a new era and the various trends are emerging out of the obscurity on the textile horizon