CHENNAI: Japan is looking to tap the textiles sector in Tamil Nadu and experts from the country are evaluating the two textile labs in the State to ensure they comply with the quality requirement and various compliances for Japanese markets.
On the sidelines of the Capacity Building Programme (CBP), Kei Funaki, regional manager of Japan Textile Products Quality and Technology Centre (QTEC) told Express, on Thursday, that the island nation is looking at alternatives since the import of Chinese textile goods has become more expensive due to the high cost of labour.
Japan imports 97% of textiles (worth $38 billion), of which China accounts for 67%, and is focusing on nine of 19 laboratories, of which two are in Tamil Nadu, said K Phanindra Reddy, Principal Secretary, State Handlooms, Handicrafts, Textiles and Khadi Department.
KS Muraleedhara, Joint Director (laboratories), Textiles Committee, Union Ministry of Textiles, said the prime focus under the CBP is to make Indian exporters and manufacturers understand the quality requirement for Japanese markets.
He said India’s share, in comparison to Japanese import, is only 1%. “Our country’s overall export is worth $40 billion while the Japanese market alone is worth $38 billion,” said Muraleedhara while stressing on the need to tap the Japanese market. “Of the 1.2% export to Japan, Tamil Nadu alone accounts for more than half.”
Funaki said he is impressed by the garment sector in Tamil Nadu. “We did not have any information about the textiles sector in India prior to this visit,” he said. The visit by Funaki and Toshiki Tasaka, Director, Overseas Coordination Department of QTEC comes in the wake of the Textiles Committee entering into a memorandum of understanding with Japan Textile Products Quality and Technology Centre.
Factfile
Indian textile industry contributes 5% to India’s GDP
The textile industry employs about 45 million people directly and 60 million indirectly
India’s overall textile export stands at $40 billion
Japan imports only 1.2% of textiles from India
Japan’s textile import is worth $38 billion