04 September 2015
M. SOUNDARIYA PREETHA
The Hindu
COIMBATORE: Southern India Mills’ Association (SIMA) is planning to set up a textile processing park in the State for the small and medium-scale units.
The association chairman T. Rajkumar told The Hindu on Wednesday that about 50 SMEs in the Salem, Karur, Erode, Tirupur, Coimbatore and Madurai textile clusters will benefit from the park.
The association is looking at taking up this project under the Integrated Processing Development Scheme. The Chief Minister had announced on Tuesday that the State Government will extend 25 per cent capital subsidy to textile processing parks set up under the scheme. The Union Government gives 50 per cent subsidy.
Welcoming the Chief Minister’s announcement, Mr. Rajkumar said the association will take the lead for the implementation of the scheme in the State.
MoU
Apart from this, the association will also sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the State Government, at the Global Investors Meet, to set up a textile processing park at Cuddalore, for the larger textile processing units. The project was mooted in 2007 and is coming up on 260 acres.
Coming up at a total project cost of Rs. 500 crore, it will have 10 processing units that will have the capacity to process 200 tonnes of fabric (knitted and woven) and yarn. The association will see if this project can also be covered under the Integrated Processing Development Scheme, he said.
Mr. Rajkumar added that the Chief Ministers announcement of formation of an advisory committee for the sector will play a greater role in laying the road map for sustained growth of textile industry in the State and make it a hub for textile manufacturing.
Textile policy
He welcomed the announcement of 15 per cent discount for silk fabric sales. He expressed hope that the State would soon come out with a textile policy.