In the last one year, crores of meters of fabrics has been imported into the country, thereby paralyzing the domestic man-made fabric (MMF) sector. The Federation of Surat Textile Traders Association (FOSTTA) to rescue the MMF sector has strongly urged the ministry of textiles to propose anti-dumping duty on the fabrics imported from China and other countries into India.

In a letter addressed to Union Textile Minister Santosh Gangwar, FOSTTA office-bearers stated that almost 50 percent of the MMF sector in Surat is observing a total shutdown from the past one month. The manufacturing of polyester fabric by the powerloom weavers has been stopped due to the weak demand of fabrics and the onslaught of the cheap imported fabrics from China.

President of FOSTTA, Manoj Agarwal said that they have urged the Central Government to impose anti-dumping duty on the imported fabrics. Compared to the fabrics produced indigenously, the imported fabrics are almost 100 percent cheaper.

They have also demanded cargo service from Surat airport at the earliest which will help their textile exporters to directly export the fabrics to various destinations, instead of diverting them from Mumbai and Delhi.

According to Agarwal, at present, the Technology Upgradation Fund Scheme (TUFS) benefits are only for the powerloom sector which should be extended to the textile processors as well as the traders.