Maran to inaugurate Gujarat Eco Textile Park in Surat

September 10th, 2009 NEW DELHI - The Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Institute of Textile Management in Coimbatore will be upgraded and renamed Indian School of Textiles, the government announced Thursday. "The school will engage itself in research and will also undertake comprehensive consultancy services for the industry, Textiles Minister Dayanidhi Maran told reporters here.

August 31st, 2009 NEW YORK - India's exports to the US can increase by $1.5-billion if it made an effort to bail out the ailing textiles sector, according to Textiles Minister Dayanidhi Maran, now on an official visit to the US. "My visit will help exporters grab a large chunk of the market, which is expected to rebound by 2010 and 2011, Maran said Sunday while inaugurating the India Pavilion at "Sourcing Magic" fair in Las Vegas.

August 7th, 2009 NEW DELHI - India has released 53.5 million dollars of subsidies to textile firms to upgrade their technology. This was disclosed by Union Textiles Minister Dayanidhi Maran while addressing a press conference here on Thursday.

July 18th, 2009 NEW DELHI/AHMEDABAD - Hoping to attract around 5,000 tourists to watch the solar eclipse on July 22 in Surat district, one of the places in India where the total eclipse will be visible, the Gujarat government Saturday announced it would offer free boarding to the first 200 people registering with them. The tourists will be accommodated in the homes of local people in Surat free of charge under a scheme called 'Atithi devo bhava' (the guest is almost akin to god).

July 15th, 2009 NEW DELHI - The 43rd India International Garment Fair that began here Wednesday will fetch manufacturers almost the same amount of business as the previous one. "The forecast isn't that bad, but I am not very optimistic either.

July 15th, 2009 NEW DELHI - The government is promoting an export policy regime for the textiles industry that will cover all potential markets including South East Asia, said Textiles Minister Dayanidhi Maran Wednesday. The government is also promoting textiles mega shows in potential markets.

July 7th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Welcoming the general budget 2009-10, Textiles Minister Dayanidhi Maran Tuesday said some more announcements on empowerment of weaker sections and facilities for the growth of medium and small scale enterprises in the sector will be made soon. "We are going to converge with certain other announcements, particularly empowerment of weaker sections, welfare of workers in the unorganised sector and facilities for the growth of medium and small scale enterprises to utilise fully the assistance under schemes outlined in the budget, Maran told reporters here.

June 24th, 2009 NEW DELHI - The government will spend Rs.1,100 crore (Rs.11 billion) annually till 2012 to provide subsidies and upgrade technology to the textile sector, Textiles Minister Dayanidhi Maran said here Wednesday. The Technology Upgradation Fund Scheme (TUFS), which was launched to improve competitiveness and overall long term viability of the industry, has been extended till March 31, 2012.

June 24th, 2009 NEW DELHI - The government will provide health insurance to 150,000 weavers and open two textile parks, Textiles Minister Dayanidhi Maran said Wednesday while unveiling the department's first 100 days' work agenda. "The textile sector is the second largest employer after agriculture and accounts for 13.5 percent of the total merchandise export earning and four percent of the GDP," said Maran.

June 19th, 2009 MUMBAI - Textiles Minister Dayanidhi Maran wants the sector to develop the "Made in India" brand and diversify into markets beyond the US and the European Union. "The US and EU markets are brand-driven, and through branding we will be able to create a niche market for Indian textiles products and ensure higher value realisation per unit, Maran told reporters here Friday.

June 12th, 2009 NEW DELHI - The textile industry will regain lost ground to grow at 7-8 percent in the current fiscal, Textiles Minister Dayanidhi Maran said here Friday. Industry is quite optimistic and I am also quite optimistic we will be able to achieve that growth, Maran told reporters on the sidelines of a conference here.

June 12th, 2009 NEW DELHI - The government will exempt the slowdown-hit textile sector from service tax as part of its short-term strategy to bail out the industry, Minister for Textiles Dayanidhi Maran said here Friday. As part of our short-term strategy for the textile industry, we will try to rationalise fiscal structure, exempt service tax, reduce interest rates on pre and post-shipment credit and facilitate faster clearance of arrears, Maran said here while releasing a report on the effects of the slowdown on the textile sector.

January 20th, 2009 SURAT - The Income Tax department continued search and seizure operations for the second day Wednesday, raiding 14 more textile units in this south Gujarat city to unearth unaccounted income. On Tuesday, the department had targeted 40 textile and paint manufacturing units.

January 19th, 2009 AHMEDABAD - The investigative wing of the Income-Tax department raided the factory premises of 40 textile and paint manufacturers in Surat Tuesday, an official said. The raids were conducted by a team of 150 sleuths, with senior officials from the Rajkot Income Tax Commissionerate joining in the raids.

January 18th, 2009 AHMEDABAD - Owners of diamond cutting and processing units across Gujarat Monday floated a new organisation to represent them in a more unified manner and put greater pressure on the central government to heed them. So far, the Surat Diamond Association was the representative group of diamond cutters, traders and polishers, taking up issues such as mass employment and closure of units.