GUNTUR: The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) will soon come out with a `Vision-Document for Textile Sector' envisaging doubling the growth of textile sector by 2010, said CII Andhra Pradesh chairman M.K. Patodia.

Speaking to The Hindu here on Saturday, he said that the textile sector had the potential to touch $85 billion from the existing $36 billion in five years. Cheap manpower and abundant natural resources were the advantages India had over other countries, he added.

`Vision' targets

Cotton exports were presently valued at $15 billion while the Vision targets $50 billion by 2010. To achieve these objectives, Rs.1.5 lakh crores investments were necessary, he said.

Textile industry in India was fragmented and there was an urgent need to integrate with focus on costs, logistics, infrastructure and supply chain management. Andhra Pradesh had a rich potential for growth as it had abundant raw material, ranking second in the country in production of raw silk and cotton.

Guntur Collector, G. Jayalakshmi said that with many companies were coming forward to set up textile units in the district, things were looking up. Cotton was grown in 1.39 hectares in the district and last year, the Cotton Corporation of India procured six lakh bales of cotton.

With the entry of many units, the district is poised to move ahead in the textile sector. "However, the mills used outdated technologies and production is affected," she said and wanted the CII to formulate plans keeping in view, the specific problems of the region. CII would examine the issue and take steps to overcome this problem, Mr. Patodia replied.

Mr. Patodia said that the CII was preparing the document in consultation with other agencies and it would be released by Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy during the `CII Textiles Forum-Emerging Opportunities Conference' to be held at Hyderabad on November 24 and 25.

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