The share of textile and apparel exports in total Indian exports in 2015 was 40 billion US Dollar, that is, 15.3 per cent of the total exports of amounting to 262.3 billion US Dollar. The contribution of the sector in 2014 and 2013 was 13.1 per cent and 12.8 per cent of the total exports, respectively.

“In order to give boost to the textile industry, government has introduced special packages for apparel and made-ups sector in June 2016 and December 2016, respectively,” Ajay Tamta, minister of state for textiles said in a written reply to Rajya Sabha.

“The government is also implementing schemes like Amended Technology Upgradation Fund Scheme (ATUFS), Pradhan Mantri Paridhan Rojgar Protsahan Yojna (PMPRPY), Scheme of Rebate of State Levies (RoSL) on export of garments, Schemes for Technical textiles, Scheme for Integrated Textile Parks (SITP), Integrated Skill Development Scheme etc. to modernize textile industry, increase production and global competitiveness,” Tamta said.

The government, he said, has taken a number of initiatives to augment textile exports, which include merchandise export from India Scheme (MEIS) under new Foreign Trade Policy 2015-20, restoring interest rate subvention for pre and post shipment credit for the textile sector, expanding the scope of MEIS since 2015 to 110 new tariff lines and increase rates or country coverage or both for 2,228 existing tariff lines, increased duty drawback rates for some textile articles and more.

The exports of textile items during 2016-17 (Apr-Dec) were 26 billion US Dollar as compared to 27.2 billion US Dollar during the period last year, the minister added.

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