The commissioner and secretary of handloom, textiles and sericulture, government of Assam, Mukti Gogoi, on Sunday said 10 countries have stepped forward to invest in the sector. Taking part in a dialogue on handlooms and textiles, he said a strategic location and a strong connectivity make Assam the ideal place for engaging in business with countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean). Gogoi said 92 per cent eri and 98 per cent muga in the country are produced in Assam only, adding there is a domestic market worth Rs 5,000 crore for handloom, textiles, sericulture and handicraft products. The official added that the National Handloom Development Programme has been taken up for implementation and block-level common facility centres are being set up for weavers in rural areas.
“The handloom and textile sector has immense possibility for investment and the government of Assam welcomes investors with open arms,” minister, handloom, textiles and sericulture, Ranjit Dutta, said at the sectoral session on handloom and textiles held as part of the Advantage Assam-Global Investors’ Summit at the Sarusajai sports complex. Dutta said handloom and textiles have organised and unorganised sectors and both have immense investment potential. Representing the ministry of handloom and textile, government of India, S. Bandopadhyay, briefed the participants about steps taken by the Centre for development of these sectors. He announced that P.K. Madhavan, director, TechFab India, is willing to invest heavily in the technical textile sector such as geo textile and jute bags among others. The managing director, Fabric Plus Pvt Ltd, Dilip Barooah, praised the natural textiles of India. He emphasised the endeavour of the Assam government to make the state the future natural textile hub of India. He also talked about the budget highlights on steps to woo investors.

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