India needs to manufacture textiles machinery to become self-reliant: Darshana Jardosh

New Delhi: The country needs to manufacture textile machineries, which are mostly imported, in order to become self-reliant and enhance export competitiveness to emerge as the global leader in the sector, minister of state for textiles Darshana Jardosh said on Thursday.

"Our export competitiveness is quite evident as we stand second, only behind China. But unlike China we do not have in-house manufacturing of textile machineries. Most of the machineries are being imported. And that's where our industry needs to step up," the minister said at the Mumbai edition of Gartex Texprocess India.

She said India's textile and apparel sector registered the highest ever growth of 40.55 per cent in its exports and reached USD 43.44 billion in 2021-22 compared to USD 30.90 billion in FY21.

"I urge the industry to promote the government's 'vocal for local' campaign. Vocal for local is the real brand ambassador of 'make in India' movement by emphasising the promotion of local brands, manufacturing and supply chain, and shows such as Gartex Texprocess India are excellent initiatives and a much-needed show to fill this technology gap," she added.