National/Ludhiana News-Ludhiana soon to have NIFT: KS Rao

Ludhiana, September 11, 2013: Ludhiana will be shortly having a National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT).
This was announced by the Union Minister of Textiles K.S Rao at the interaction with the representatives of Ludhiana Integrated Textile Park and Knitwear Club in the presence of Manish Tewari, Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting here today.
The Union Textile Minister also announced that he alongwith Tewari will take up the issue of “anti-dumping duty” on some goods where it is badly needed with the Union Finance Ministry.
Rao also announced Rs. 10 crore for Exhibition Centre within the upcoming Apparel Park, for the textile sector in the town. He also assured all possible support from the Government of India to promote the knitwear industry.
Agreeing to the industry demand for a training centre in the city, the Minister said that District Industries Centre (DIC) will be asked for immediate action. In order to promote training of unskilled labour, Rao announced that the Centre will provide Rs. 10,000 for each trainee whom the industry undertakes to train.
He lauded the efforts by Tewari in promoting the cause of industry in Punjab in general and Ludhiana in particular, and said that he had been persistent in his effort to fulfil the Industry’s demands.
In his remarks, Manish Tewari said that the Government has a responsibility to promote industry in all possible ways. Recalling the general norms of making available land and bearing capital cost for setting up of an NIFT by the State Government, Tewari suggested that PPP Model could be considered for Ludhiana as industry was willing to provide land for the purpose.
He emphasized that opening an NIFT in Ludhiana was the need of the hour to further develop the industry and to provide employment opportunities to the local youth.
Tewari further said that the people of Punjab are industrious and have progressed under all conditions, with or without Government support. It is imperative to lend them necessary support to quicken the pace of
progress and development. He expressed confidence that all possible support will be made available by the Ministry of Textiles.
The Minister further said that as each household in Ludhiana is connected with Textile/Hosiery industry, the demanded support will go a long way in promoting the cause of this sector. He further said the Textiles Minister was apprised of the various issues related to the sector following his deliberations and interactions with various organizations of this sector during his visit to Ludhiana.
Those who support and present on the occasion includes former Ministers of Punjab Surinder Singla, Ishar Singh Meharban, Malkit Singh Dakha, Malkit Singh Birmi, local MLA Rakesh Pandey, Surinder Dawar, DCC (U) President Pawan Dewan, Ex-MLA Jassi Khangura, Gurmail Singh Pehalwan, Ashok Prashar Pappi, District Mahila Congress President Smt. Leena Taparia, Darshan Dawar, President of Knitwear Club, Narinder Miglani, General Secretary  and Monika Garg, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Textiles.
Later, at the press interaction Rao exhorted the entrepreneurs of Ludhiana to produce more as industrial production is the backbone for any economy and India needs this support at this crucial juncture, when the economy needs higher production and larger exports.
He also said that issues of imports related to Textiles have been resolved by the Centre and he expects the sector to look up and contribute more to the Forex kitty.
The steps included removal of Central Excise Duty on certain items. He also promised to take up the issue of warehousing facilities in major Latin American countries.
To the Industry’s demand of anti-dumping duty on cheap products being sent by China, Indonesia and Bangladesh, Rao assured that he and Tewari will take up the issue with the Ministry of Finance.

The Union Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting (IC) speaks at the interaction with the representatives of Ludhiana Integrated Textile Park and Knitwear Club at Ludhiana on Wednesday.