An Interactive session on the proposed New Textile Policy, Govt. of Bihar was organised by the Ministry of Industry, Govt. of Bihar jointly with the Synthetic and Rayon Textiles Export Promotion Council today, 30th June, 2021 at the Council’s Head Office at Resham Bhavan in Mumbai. Shri Shahnawaz Hussain, Hon’ble Minister of Industry, Govt. of Bihar was the Chief Guest. Shri Brijesh Mehrotra, Additional Chief Secretary, Industries Department, Government of Bihar was also present during the session. Shri Dhiraj Raichand Shah, Chairman, SRTEPC, Shri Bhadresh Dodhia, Vice-Chairman, SRTEPC, and other industry leaders and stakeholders of the textile industry attended the interactive session. On behalf of the SRTEPC and the textile fraternity Shri Dhiraj Raichand Shah, Chairman, SRTEPC welcomed Shri Shahnawaz Hussain, Hon’ble Minister of Industry, Govt. of Bihar, the Chief Guest and Shri Brijesh Mehrotra, Additional Chief Secretary, Industries Department, Government of Bihar. Shri Dhiraj Raichand Shah informed that Indian Textile industry has huge potential globally. Today our share in global textile and clothing trade is around 5% whereas China alone occupies more than 60% of global trade, he stated. The MMF textile sector is a sunrise sector not only in India but globally. More than 70% of textile fibres are coming from MMF and the share has been increasing, whereas the share of natural fibre is declining day-by-day. In technical textiles, use of MMF is more than 90%. In India, we have predominant use of natural fibre/ cotton with 60% share and MMF is only 40%. This is an opposite to the global trend. India is not producing enough as per global demand and trends. There comes the need of a sound Textile Policy that helps the industry to help its products and exports to be competitive, Shri Dhiraj Raichand Shah informed. Regarding the proposed new textile policy of Bihar the SRTEPC Head suggested that the textile policy should primarily address the issues pertaining to fiscal aspects, raw-material security, capital and technology aspect, skill & training, labour, issues etc.
He also informed that the state of Bihar has a good weaving sector with growing numbers of power-looms. It has natural fibre base like banana, bamboo, jute, silk, etc. However, since Bihar has Barauni oil refinery and Haldia and Paradip Refineries are also not very far off, there is scope for producing MMF in the state, Shri Dhiraj Raichand Shah mentioned. He insisted that the proposed New Textile Policy of the state should be industry friendly to encourage and attract further investments in the state. We are looking forward to have an excellent Textile Policy from the Govt. of Bihar that will not only pool more investment in the sector but also encourage the MMF textile segment, SRTEPC Chairman mentioned.
Shri Brijesh Mehrotra, Addl Chief Secretary briefed about the possible opportunities for investment in Bihar in his address to the stakeholders.
Shri Ravishankar Shrivastava Investment Commissioner Bihar has presented through PPT about the Investment Climate in Bihar by giving details about the infrastructure, it’s geographical advantage and the incentives offered by government of Bihar to attract investments.
Representative from Department of Industry, Government of Bihar has presented the salient features of draft Bihar Textile policy 2021 about the strengths and opportunities of Bihar and likely incentives/benefits being offered. While intervening in the presentation, Shri Shahnawaz Hussain, Hon’ble Minister explained the opportunities and the locational advantages in reducing logistics cost in setting up textile industry in Bihar. After that suggestions were invited from the stakeholders. While appreciating the draft policy particularly the single-window clearance , investment subsidy, skilled development, infrastructure development through textile parks etc., participants have opined promising response to the draft policy applauding the progressive approach of the Government and said that further suggestions if any shall be forwarded to the government.
During his speech Shri Shahnawaz Hussain, Hon’ble Minister of Industry, Govt. of Bihar informed that his connection with SRTEPC and MMF textile industry is very old. He informed that the state of Bihar has got a new identity as a fast-moving state towards industrialisation. The Hon’ble Minister requested the SRTEPC Members to invest in Bihar as an expansion of their business. He stated that the state of Bihar can be a textile hub and supersede even Bangladesh as it has available skilled and semi-skilled labourers required for the textile industry. Bihar is positioned in a very strategic location to cater to not only the entire India but also to the entire SAARC region.
The Hon’ble Minister, Shri Syed Shahnawaz Hussain emphasised the strategic location of Bihar in eastern India for both domestic and export markets. He also explained that most districts, today, were easily connected via nearby airports in Bihar and/or adjoining states. The Minister also emphasized on the stable and good governance in the state. He pointed to the data of National Crime records bureau that the crime rate in Bihar is far low as compared to leading industrial states. He explained that the state has implemented the system of online filing of Common Application Form (CAF) to make the single window system really effective. The Minister spoke about recent large investment intentions that the state has received such as that of JSW, Essar and Micromax. He explained that Bihar was growing the fastest in the country and was the only large state to maintain a double digit growth rate despite the pandemic. He informed that since November, 2020, the state has given over 300 SIPB Stage I approvals involving Rs. 19,958 crore investments despite Covid 19 pandemic. He said that over 53% of the population in Bihar is younger than 25 years and hence Bihar was the most suitable for labor intensive industry. He also said that a majority of workers who have returned to Corona were from the textile sector and are wanting a more decentralised industrial set up which can enable them to ‘work from home’. He further extolled the entrepreneurs to come and invest in Bihar availing of various benefits including demographic dividend and together take the country ahead of Bangladesh.
Meeting ended with vote of thanks by Shri Bhadresh Dodhia, Vice-Chairman of SRTEPC.
