The ministry of textiles, through its regional office, Navi Mumbai, is hosting a two-day buyer-seller meet for the first time for creating ‘Brand Malegaon’. Though the ministry has organized such meeting at various textile clusters at regular intervals, this is the first time that such an event is being organized in Malegaon. It is a move to boost the efforts of the textile commissioner's office, in association with Malegaon Industries' & Manufacturers' Association (MIMA).

The event was planned after textile commissioner Kiran Soni Gupta visited Malegaon on May 31 on the request of MIMA, and announced a series of initiatives for the development of Malegaon textile cluster.

She was surprised by the absence of local textile market despite a huge daily production and extinction of a 'Brand Malegaon' like other clusters.

During her visit to Malegaon, the commissioner, though appreciated the skill and work of the weavers of Malegaon, expressed surprise that the city does not have a brand name, MIMA President Khurshid Ansari said.

He added that the commissioner had pledged to extend all support on the issue so that frequent fluctuation in rates is checked, a brand is created, the needed stability in the market is achieved and weavers earn extra profit.

The commissioner also on June 16 sent a five-member team of National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) to Malegaon. According to sources, the NIFT team is has already submitted its report to the commissioner.

Besides establishing a training centre under the Integrated Skill Development Scheme, the NIFT has reportedly recommended a yarn bank, common facility centre and an apparel and readymade garment park for Malegaon.

The two-day buyer-seller meet will be held at Aishwariya Mangal Karyalay in Malegaon on 25 and 26 June. The event will be inaugurated by additional collector Raghunath Gawade. Top 50 buyers and exporters from places such as Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Baramati, Sholapur and Surat will be visiting the meet. The buyer-seller meet will play an important role in achieving the targets set for Malegaon.