Export prospect of Khadi bright : Prabhu

Speed Post News Network

New Delhi : Textiles and apparel sector has made a significant contribution by providing both direct and indirect employment to almost 35 and 50 million Indians respectively making it the largest employment sector after agriculture.

This makes Khadi an important segment for concentrating towards export promotion. A roundtable discussion on ‘ Taking Khadi : local to global’ was organized here by Indian Institute of Foreign Trade on January 30,  2018, with support from KVIC and Udaan Skill. The event focused on connecting the global demand and supply of Khadi, identifying newer markets and product diversification, developing promotional strategies to enter newer markets, inputs on trade policy, market access at WTO front, compliances, design interventions and possibilities of CSR interventions from corporates and PSUs, according to a PIB release.

Minister for Commerce and Industry Suresh Prabhu said, “ The export prospect of Khadi is assured with world moving towards natural and Eco-friendly products.”  The minister further added that this roundtable discussion on “Khadi exports” is pertinent considering  the fact that while textile sector being the largest source of employment generation in the country contributing to country’s 15% exports, share of Khadi sector is very low (less than 0.22%) in total textile sector.  ” Hence focus on exports of this sector becomes important. End to end marketing strategy with support from trading houses and academic institutes like IIFT is the need of the hour,” he said.

Chairman, Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) V K Saxena,who was the Guest of honour, explained the diversity of efforts made by KVIC towards promotion of Khadi right from meeting the issues on raw material procurement, wage levels of rural artisans, technological and design interventions and making it a sustainable and export worthy segment. “Its export worthiness also comes from the fact that Indian Khadi earns a lot of water and carbon foot print since it requires only 3 litres of water as compared to 56 liters in other fabrics,” said Saxena.