SIMA’ Head meets Textile Minister, urges to remove import duty on cotton

Ravi Sam, Chairman, Southern India Mills’ Association (SIMA) met Minister for Commerce and Industry and Textiles Piyush Goyal and urged for measures to improve textile exports.

Coimbatore-based SIMA is one of the leading trade bodies for textile industry.

Free trade agreements, reduction of hank yarn obligation and the need to remove import duty on cotton… were the core issues Ravi discussed in detail with the Minister.

The need to renegotiate bilateral agreements with neighbouring countries, electricity-related matters and revamping the Handloom Reservation Act were also discussed.

Ravi said that the Minister heard about the issues that were posing challenges to the industry and assured required action.

In another development, Ravi Sam also met the Minister for Civil Aviation Jyotiraditya Scindia and sought better air connectivity to Coimbatore. The Minister said that he would immediately look into connecting Coimbatore through Air India and Vistara flights and said that direct international flights would be permitted after runway expansion.