The state of Andhra  Pradesh has made a comprehensive pitch to the central government for a proposed mega textile park under the Union Government sponsored PM MITRA scheme.

It is stated that there are about 13 states that are vying for the 7 mega textile parks which the central government shall allocate.

The Ministry of Textiles had issued a notification to set up 7 Mega Integrated Textile Region and Apparel (PM MITRA) Parks with a total outlay of Rs. 4,445 crore. 

It is hoped that the PM MITRA Parks will have world-class industrial infrastructure which would attract cutting edge technology and boost FDI and local investment in the textiles sector.

‘Andhra Pradesh stands a fair chance of bagging the mega project’ said Mr Karikal Valaven, Special Chief Secretary, Industries, GoAP speaking to Vizag Industrial Scan.

The Senior IAS officer had recently made a presentation on behalf of the AP Government at the National PM MITRA workshop with his team at Delhi.

As many as 13 states including Telangana, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Odisha, Gujarat, and Rajasthan are vying for the 7 such mega textile parks to be set up across the nation, and understandably all these state governments have also forwarded the proposal to the Central government informed Mr Valaven. 

Elaborating further he said that the AP Government has urged the Union Government to set up the mega industrial textile park spread over 1,186 acres either in Visakhapatnam-Chennai Industrial Corridor or as a part of the YSR Jagananna Mega Industrial Hub.

APIIC has agreed to extend all possible support to the proposed mega textile park and Mr Valaven underscored that the state government has extended many incentives to the textile sector even during the covid-19 pandemic to spur growth of the textile sector.

“We have already three functioning textile integrated parks in the state, and the atmosphere is very congenial to set up the mega textile park with logistical advantages such as highly efficient road, rail and air connectivity prevailing in Kadapa district” Mr Valaven observed.

Central Team visits Kadapa for feasibility

A high-level central team headed by Mr. H.S. Nanda, Director, Ministry of Textile, and Deputy Secretary Punendra Kant have visited Kadapa district recently and conducted the feasibility study at the site in Kopparthi mandal where a land mass is identified to set up the park.

The team also held wide ranging discussions with the senior officials in the industries department at Amaravati, before departing for Kadapa district to examine the site and conduct the feasibility study. During their visit they were briefed about AP’s potential and the position it enjoys for being the seventh largest producer of cotton and second in silk.

The fact that many textile parks  are already functioning in the state, which is also the biggest producer of yarn, only add value to the AP being the top contender in the race to bag the project, said the special chief secretary.

Generating Employment growth.

According to industry experts, the prestigious project would augment employment generation in the drought hit regions of Kadapa, Anantapur and Chittoor and the project is expected to give direct employment to 1 lakh people and indirect employment to 2 lakh people. Added to these factors, prestigious institutes such as Handlooms and Handicrafts Centre in Anantapur and the Indian Institute of Handloom Technology (IIHT) also situated in the state, speak volumes about the textile- rich ecosystem which is prevailing in Andhra Pradesh.