Surat looking for textile mega cluster similar to Ichhalkaranji, Maharashtra

In a meeting held between textile commissioner Kiran Soni Gupta and members of man-made fabric industry of the city on Wednesday discussed over various issues ranging from TUFS, indigenous manufacturing of textile machinery, skilled manpower requirements, yarn bank, etc. Also design of the textile cluster in Surat was the major point of discussion. The Southern Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry leaders, representing the textile entrepreneurs has proposed that design of the mega textile cluster for Surat on the lines of the one already developed in Ichhalkaranji in Maharashtra with some few additions. It is proposed to develop facilities like market research, brand Surat, data library and the inclusion of the global fabric research centre and zari sector. The textile commissioner was very much impressed with the proposed design of the textile mega cluster in Surat. Though the final notification on the cluster development is yet to be issued by the government, they are expecting to receive Rs 50 crore worth of funds from the Centre for the cluster project. Textile Commissioner Gupta at the meeting said that, Surat is the country’s biggest MMF centre, but there is a need to start indigenous machine manufacturing. To protect the small and marginal weavers from the price fluctuations, the Ved Road and Pandesara weavers’ association had submitted proposal. The textile commissioner would also be taking up the clearance of this yarn bank proposal soon. In addition to the textile commissioner talking about the pending proposals over 250 cases of committed liability under TUFS from Surat, said that a software has been designed to make the TUFS subsidy clearance faster. The software will be developed for beneficiaries, bankers, textile commissioner office and the ministry of textile.