Mr Anil Rajvanshi, Senior Executive Vice President & Head Corporate & Industry Affairs of Reliance Industries Ltd. (RIL) is the Past Chairman of The Synthetic & Rayon Textiles Export Promotion Council (SRTEPC). Mr. Rajvanshi is also a member of the National Committee of Textiles of Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce & Industry (FICCI). He is also associated with the Textiles Committee and represents Reliance Industries Limited at The Synthetic & Art Silk Mills Research Association (SASMIRA).
Mr Rajvanshi spoke to the Editor of the Textile Value Chain in an exclusive interview. Excerpts:
As SRTEPC has been organising buyer-seller meetings for many years, then what is the purpose for which you have kept buyer-seller meeting only in Surat?
As the flagship event of SRTEPC, it started from Surat only in 2016,and in 2018 it was organised in Surat only. In 2019 we organized it in Bombay.As a result of COVID-19 in 2020 and 2021, we were unable to host buyer-seller meet in 2022. In Bombay there was a jumbo ground center, so we thought that would organise there but now it has become a center for COVID-19 patients, so we are looking forward to bring our signature event back to Surat. Now we are determined to do that on an annual basis which will be known as Brand Surat. Because, for man-made fibre, man-made textile industry has a big role. Around 40 million meters of cloth is manufactured per day in India with Surat as the biggest centre, and around 7 lakh people are located in Surat, out of the 20-lakh people working.
Surat is the biggest hub, but why the international buyer-seller meetings you are not organised in Mumbai, which is the main hub?
The material which is manufactured in Surat is in dyed,embroidered or in printed form sand some of the quantity goes to pan-India and some to Bombay from where it is exported.Since 40% is made in Surat, all MMFs made in India will be consumed. Materials made in Surat by engraving, embroidery and printing are distributed throughout India and a certain amount is exported to Bombay. Most of the production is done in Surat, which is a little faster than Bombay, but for manufacturing and cost reasons it is common to make brands in Surat. Light chiffon quality is available in many qualities.
The quantity of chiffon is not produced in any country in the world except in India because the quality is not produced at the same cost as done here. Therefore, we believe that all of this needs to be further encouraged.Why cannot we increase synthetic man-made fibres,so that people buy more MMF products and so that manufacturing activity is increased,and that exports can also be increased. Second thing is that the entire production of man-made fibre plantsis located in Gujarat.
When all the biggest man-made fibre production and nylon are centred in Gujarat,obviously it will be main hub of man-made textile. In time to come Gujarat will be one of the most vibrant hubs of textiles in the whole of India and will be an appropriate place to be hub of textiles manufacturing.If you see globally,share of man -made textile is 72% and of cotton is just 24%. In China it is 35%. We produce 5 million tons of polyester per day, including fibres and yarns. China produces 55 million tons.If there is a proper investment and reinvestment environment created by the Government, then the man- made fibre industry will outgrow any other fibre in the country.
I think still nylon and acrylicsare coming from China
No it is not like that. See, as 90% of acrelic consumed in India is made by Yardman??, Indian Acrylic and Pasupati Affilon within India.85% of nylon is produced in India, polyester 65-70% is consumed and produced in India so,and that is why I am telling you that Man-made fibre is not growing in field like cotton.You have to create a downstream value which has to begin from petrochemical. So, first you have to create PTA, etc to produce polyester. Today our availability is 5-6 million tons for man-made industry, and if it is to be doubled then we need an investment of Rs 45000 crore.
So, you have to create a climate to invest. Today what is lacking is the confidence and we have to think loud, have inclusive thinking.
Recently, the government has launched the PLI Scheme. What is your opinion?
It is not a well-defined scheme. Today if you see the financial cost, it will go large scale, i.e.the investment cost will go to Rs. 300 crore and will come above 8%.So for that you have to create a market, and more incentives are needed.
