Knowledge Center
India’s Textile Sector
Metiabruze Readymade Garments Cluster & E.H. Industrial Co-operative Society Limited is the ultimate outcome of the basic requirement of the vast lost pride of the state dating back before independence. It has survived the drastic economic turmoil due to its extensive expertise and great geographical significance. The aim of this co-operative society is to undermine the actual value and true potential with proper guidance and adequate resources with the help of much concerned state Government and all their managements. The state Government wants to develop this cluster as a mega garment cluster with all their help and support. The focus group is playing a pivot role in skill up-gradation for enhancing export and market linkage. Modern design and technology are being introduced in the cluster apart from skill development of the manufacturer.
We are greatly obliged to the entire MSME department and also the state Government for the formation and taking all the necessary steps for the upliftment of our co-operative society. This is also helping our socio-economic development of the region.
West Bengal Government Initiatives
The State Government envisages developing West Bengal as a competitive textile hub by increasing its share from the current 6% to at least 12% in next few years. To fulfil this objective, following initiatives have been introduced:
- The integrated textile development project (TB < PRO BEN - GAL) of 13 Textile Parks (about 500 acres/200 hectare) are under 4 broad categories, viz, Apparel & Garments; Dyeing & Processing; Power loom& Apparel and Technical Textiles
- Financial assistance for cluster development, water conservation, environmental compliance, standard quality compliance, market development, branding & designing.
- Land free from all encumbrances offered for development ofinfrastructure under Private Public Partnership mode.
- Infrastructure like access roads, power substations, Common Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP) supported by the State Government.
- Fiscal incentives for units to be set up in different Textile Parks, such as capital investment subsidy, interest subsidy, power tariff subsidy, exemption of stamp duty, reimbursement of VAT, reimbursement of electricity duty, Entry Tax concession, etc. as per the Textile Policy of the State.
- Additional fiscal incentives on export of technical textiles
- Exclusive single window, time-bound statutory clearances in advance for each unit set up in these Parks
Opportunities
- Setting up of manufacturing Plant for spinning, weaving and knitting sectors.
- Setting up of chemical industry to meet up the requirement of chemicals and dyes.
- Setting up of manufacturing machines for jute textiles and Technical Textiles.
- Setting up Design Centre for Handloom, Power loom and other sectors.
These industries will not only meet the requirements of West Bengal and rest of India but also meet substantial requirements from neighbouring countries like Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka and other South Asian countries.
Revolution of West Bengal Textile Industry
West Bengal has gone through some revolutionary changes regarding textile industry with time.
Started from local as well as migrant entrepreneurs manufacturing ladies petticoats, gent’s underwear, sari falls, gradually the industry in WB shifted to cotton gent’s kurtas and with time the manufacturers gained confidence to start making night suits, school uniforms, industrial uniforms and finally high end shirts and kurtas.
There are over 500 small and medium units in and around West Bengal that manufactures garments to be sold in many states viz. Kolkata, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Orissa.
Having a collective turnover of over 500 crores, some of the units are even exporting there goods to other countries.
Earlier this year, the Govt. of West Bengal declared to set up a modern apparel hub at Nungi, Maheshtala Municipality, and South paragana dist.
The West Bengal Govt. has managed to shape the garment industry to accommodate more entrepreneurs and artisans over the years.
Biswa Bangla, the textile and handicrafts company backed by the West Bengal Government is a great example of development in WB which has been performing extremely well in its home state and fetched a business of Rs 20 crore (approx US $ 3 million) in the financial year 2017-18 with 20 per cent of yearly growth.
Potential To Become The Next Textile Hub
Though World Bank report says West Bengal comes under the category of Lower Middle Income group, WB lacks unionization in the industry.
West Bengal has a sizeable garment industry generating annually about Rs 720 crore in wage income, even though most of the manufacturers of India are reportedly housed by the south.
The surveys on wage income depict visibly that with a small registered and formal portion and a vast unregistered and submerged informal portion WB is already a hub of the country.
The informal part does not necessarily cover only tiny, family based units, but also many manufacturers operating several machines which technically qualify for registration under the Factories Act.
Outsourcing, fragmented manufacturing process, and a complex network of small units, with a single garment passing back and forth among them, characterize this industry.
The state government wants to develop a modern, vibrant and competitive textile industry to enable the State becoming a strong hub in global textile supply chain.
Here are some facts important in fulfilling the goal set.
Advantages
Substantial producer of chemicals, local dyes.
Availability of power.
Availability of cheap labour.
Workers traditionally trained in jute cultivation
Suitable weather condition.
Easy export facility due to presence of port and airport.
Huge market, not only in India but different parts of the world.
Infrastructural Development in West Bengal Textile Industry
Paridhan – The Garment Park, Kolkata.
Zari Hub, Howrah.
Garment and Apparel Park, Barasat.
47 new Jute & Textiles units were set up with investment to the tune of Rs 173.04 crore in 2010.
Hosiery Industry in West Bengal
The State has traditional industrial base being the Birth place of hosiery industry in India.
1st hosiery factory established at Kidderpore more than a century ago.
Mainly located in Kolkata, Howrah, and Metiabruz South 24 Parganas.
Maintained its position as the hub of hosiery goods manufacturing & trade.
Has 17900 hosiery units, employs around 1.1 lakh persons and produced 176 million Kg of hosiery cloth.
Biggest Hosiery companies like Rupa & Company Limited, Euro Fashion Inner International Pvt. Ltd., Dollar Industries, Lux Hosiery Industries Pvt. Ltd. are based in West Bengal.