Ahmedabad, Mumbai and Coimbatore are major textile clusters in the country, only Coimbatore has managed to sustain and grow the manufacturing activity against all odds. Speaking as chief guest at Texfair 2016, President of the Southern India Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SICCI) Palani G Periasamy said that the city is the largest hub not only for textiles and clothing manufacture but also for textile machinery, spares, accessories and equipment manufacture. He suggested measure to build Brand Coimbatore.

The industry needs government support to make it globally competitive, Periaswamy urged the domestic textile industry to focus on modernization and keep itself updated on the latest trends to remain globally competitive. He said that India could soon replace China as the world's leading textile manufacturer, with the latter shifting its focus on manufacturing activities.

The textile industry has a remarkable future, but there will be a stiff competition in the global arena. One has to remain fit to grab opportunities.

India, currently the second largest textile manufacturing country in the world, could become the global leaders in this front in the coming decade. For this, manufacturers should concentrate on innovation, energy services, automation and online control to become globally competitive, Periyasamy said.

The textile industry should work to its potential by making the best use of special schemes announced by the central and state governments.

The four-day international fair, organised by the Southern India Mills' Association (SIMA), is expected to showcase modern developments in the industry. Major products on display are textile machinery, spares, accessories, testing equipment and electrical and electronic components.

Textile mills on an average spend 2.5%-3% of their annual turnover on spares and accessories and 4%-6% on modernization. This fair would be an ideal platform for these mills to zero in on their requirements, meet all suppliers under one roof and plan their investments, cost cutting options and ways to improve their quality.

The four-day fair running at the Codissia Trade Fair Complex on Avinashi Road would conclude on Monday at 6pm.