Surat, July 18 (IANS) Surat’s textile industry could add between 10,000 and 15,000 new air-jet loom machines over the coming year as the Gujarat government seeks to strengthen the city’s position as a global textile manufacturing hub through technology adoption, value addition, and export-oriented growth.
Addressing the Secure Airjet Weavers Association’s Weavers’ Paramarsh Sammelan at Saniya Hemad in Surat on Saturday, Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi said the expansion would build on the approximately 30,000 modern air jet loom machines already operating in the city, generating fresh employment while increasing production.
He said Gujaratis had a natural aptitude for business and expressed confidence that Surat would have the largest number of operational air jet machines anywhere in the world within the next five years.
“With government incentives and modern infrastructure, the textile industry will scale new heights in the global market,” he said.
Sanghavi urged textile manufacturers to focus on sustainable, high-quality, value-added products to remain competitive internationally.
“Surat’s textile entrepreneurs had consistently been among the first to adopt new technologies, helping the city retain its prominence in the sector,” he said.
Reiterating the state’s support for the industry, the Deputy Chief Minister said the benefits of government schemes would be extended to all weavers.
He added that “the government would place greater emphasis on export promotion and cluster development to help expand the international market for textiles produced in Surat”.
He also acknowledged the contribution of workers and entrepreneurs from across the country who had settled in Surat, saying they had played an important role in the city’s economic growth while pursuing better employment opportunities.
Highlighting government assistance to the sector, Sanghavi said Gujarat had disbursed Rs 8,000 crore to traders under the state’s Textile Policy in a single year.
He also pointed to improvements in administrative efficiency under the MSME framework, stating that the number of files cleared each day had risen from around 170 to 397.
“The government was making arrangements to directly transfer incentives into the bank accounts of 500 traders every day in the near future,” he said.
On infrastructure, Sanghavi said the proposed PM MITRA Park was currently in the tendering stage and was expected to support the development of what he described as the “largest textile ecosystem” in South Gujarat.
He urged industrialists to expand garment manufacturing with higher value addition, expressing confidence that Surat and the wider South Gujarat region could emerge as India’s largest garment manufacturing hub.
The Weavers’ Paramarsh Sammelan was organised to promote the sustainable growth and modernisation of Surat’s textile industry, encourage wider adoption of air-jet weaving technology, and increase value addition in textile manufacturing.
–IANS
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