Context:

• Recently, a conference on technical textiles was organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and the Department of Textiles, Tamil Nadu. 

India targets $40bn in technical textiles

• According to the official from the Ministry of Textiles, the Indian market for technical textiles is targeted to touch $40 billion by 2030.
• The current market size is $23 billion and the export of technical-textile products is also expected to touch $10 billion from the current $2.5 billion in the next seven years.

What is Technical Textiles?

• Definition: Technical textiles are defined as textile materials and products used primarily for their technical performance and functional properties rather than their aesthetic or decorative characteristics.
  • Unlike conventional textiles used traditionally for clothing or furnishing, technical textiles are used basically because of their specific physical and functional properties and mostly by other user industries. 
• Alternative Terms: industrial textiles, functional textiles, performance textiles, engineering textiles, invisible textiles and hi-tech textiles. 
• Functional Characteristics: health & safety, cost-effectiveness, durability, high strength, lightweight, versatility, customization; user-friendliness, eco-friendliness, logistical convenience, etc.
• Types: Depending on the product characteristics, functional requirements and end-use applications the highly diversified range of technical textiles are grouped into 12 segments.
  • Agrotech (Agro Textiles), Buildtech (Construction Textiles), Clothtech (Clothing Textiles), Geotech (Geo Textiles), Hometech (Home Textiles), Indutech (Industrial Textiles), Meditech (Medical Textiles), Mobiltech (Automotive Textiles), Packtech (Packaging Textiles), Protech (Protective Textiles) And Sportech (Sports Textiles).
• Application: These textiles have diverse applications, spanning agriculture, infrastructure (roads and railways), sportswear, healthcare, and even high-end uses like bulletproof jackets and space exploration.

Other Initiatives for the Promotion of Technical Textile

• Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for Textiles Sector: It aims to promote the production of high-value Man-Made Fiber (MMF) fabrics, garments and technical textiles.
• Harmonized System of Nomenclature (HSN) Codes for Technical-Textile: In 2019, the Government of India dedicated 207 HSN codes to technical-textiles to help monitor the data of import and export, in providing financial support and other incentives to manufacturers.
• 100% FDI under Automatic Route: The Government of India allows 100% Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) under the automatic route. International technical textile manufacturers such as Ahlstrom, Johnson & Johnson, etc have already initiated operations in India.
• Amended Technology Upgradation Fund Scheme: To improve exports and indirectly promote investments in textile machinery.

Source: The Hindu