Tripura is the second state in the Northeast after Nagaland to have an Apparel and Garment Making centre following the inauguration of the unit in Bodhjungnagar Industrial Growth Centre, Agartala by textiles minister Santosh Kumar Gangwar.
The minister said that the apparel units in the North East are a significant step towards the Make in India Initiative of the government.
Gangwar said when ‘Make in India’ was conceived to make the country a manufacturing destination, it was decided that the potential of the Northeastern region which is a stronghold of handlooms and traditional textiles, may be tapped for ready-made garment industry. He said that the project for Apparel & Garment Making Units was conceived in this background.
“This is the first organized effort to bring modern ready-made garment industry in Northeast. It will be possible to realize the goals of Make in India, when our people have entrepreneurial abilities and our workforce has necessary skills,” Gangwar said.
The apparel centre will serve both purposes. “The project will develop entrepreneurship through various capacity building measures and also train the people to work efficiently on high-end garment machines. It will help to develop an ecosystem which will trigger further investments and employment in the state,” he said.
The minister said this growth will have to be facilitated through enabling policies and programmes and the state Government has a crucial role to play in this regard.
He expressed confidence that the growth of garment industry in Tripura will provide a fillip to traditional sectors like handlooms, handicrafts and silk. He said that a convergence among different schemes is important to achieve the holistic development of the textile sector in the region.
The goods manufactured in the Northeast are of high quality and that goods produced there are meant not only for the region but also for all over India and worldwide. The textiles minister said that a lot of people are now showing keen interest in the Northeast, given the huge scope and avenues the region offers.
