Japan imports 97 percent of textiles (worth $38 billion), of which China accounts for 67 percent, since the import of Chinese textile goods has become more expensive due to the high cost, Japan is focusing on nine of 19 laboratories, of which two are in Tamil Nadu, said K Phanindra Reddy, Principal Secretary, State Handlooms, Handicrafts, Textiles and Khadi Department.

Japan impressed with the textile sector in Tamil Nadu is keen to tap the textiles sector and experts from the country are evaluating the two textile labs in the State to ensure they comply with the quality requirement and various compliances for Japanese markets.

On the sidelines of the Capacity Building Programme (CBP), Kei Funaki, regional manager of Japan Textile Products Quality and Technology Centre (QTEC) said on Thursday, that the island nation is looking at alternatives.

Funaki said that he is impressed by the garment sector in Tamil Nadu. They did not have any information about the textiles sector in India prior to this visit. The visit by Funaki and Toshiki Tasaka, Director, Overseas Coordination Department of QTEC comes in the wake of the Textiles Committee entering into a memorandum of understanding with Japan Textile Products Quality and Technology Centre.

KS Muraleedhara, Joint Director (laboratories), Textiles Committee, Union Ministry of Textiles, said that the prime focus under the CBP is to make Indian exporters and manufacturers understand the quality requirement for Japanese markets. He said that India’s share, in comparison to Japanese import, is only 1 percent.

India’s overall export is worth $40 billion while the Japanese market alone is worth $38 billion, of which the 1.2% export to Japan, Tamil Nadu alone accounts for more than half. Hence, there is a need to tap the Japanese market.