Maharashtra Minister of State for Co-Operation Dadabhau Bhuse inaugurating a Buyer-Seller meet in Malegaon on Friday urged the local weavers and entrepreneurs to create own brand so as to earn identity and reputation in the competitive market.

As the grey and ready-to-wear fabrics manufactured in Malegaon have potential to attract global market. There are fabrics and sarees being sold in local and international markets that are manufactured by people of Malegaon.

But, since the powerloom weavers in Malegaon do not have a brand name, the sellers are using their own name and selling these quality products earning handsome profits, Dada Bhuse said.

Taking a cue from ‘Make in India’ and ‘Make in Maharashtra’ campaigns, the minister said that they need to start ‘Make in Malegoan’ campaign. The skill and potential the local weavers and powerloom owners have will be a great hit.

The minister further said that he earnestly wishes that local grey cloth and ready-to-wear sarees and fabrics are exported directly from Malegaon with their own brand names.

Local MLA Asif Shaikh Rasheed in his speech called upon the local entrepreneurs to establish textile processing units in Malegaon.

Recalling how the local industry was hit by closure of textile processing units in Pali, Balotra and other neighboring cities in Rajasthan Asif Shaikh said that the local weavers should stop depending on other cities for their survival.

It is high time that some of the local weavers form a group who work for the establishment of top-class and modern textile processing units here itself, he said.

He also requested Minister Dada Bhuse to get suitable land reserved for processing units at the upcoming MIDC area in Malegaon.

In his address Ravikumar, Office In-Charge Textile Commissioner Office Navi Mumbai, promised to extend all support for the development and growth of Malegaon textile industry. He also briefed the weavers about the existing schemes by the Ministry of Textiles and urged them to take benefit from these schemes.

On the first day of the Buyer-Seller meet Friday a huge crowd gathered, besides local manufacturers, powerloom weavers from Varanasi, Kolkata and other textile clusters have also put up their stalls to showcase their products.

The 3-day Buyer-Seller meet jointly organized by the Regional Textile Commissioner Office Navi Mumbai and Powerloom Development and Export Promotion Council (PDEXCIL),