K Ratnaprabha, additional chief secretary, government of Karnataka speaking at the road show for Technotex 2015, an annual conference on technical textiles organized by the ministry of textiles and FICCI, here on Tuesday, said that the government wants industries to move away from the congested Bengaluru region. The government was ready to offer incentives to industries willing to move out of Bengaluru.

She also said that the Karnataka government has identified 1,000 acres land for the upcoming textile park at Yadgir in north Karnataka. The construction of the textiles park, in the most backward region of the state, is likely to improve condition of cotton growers and weavers besides generating employment for a large number of people.

Besides this, the government is also planning to develop smaller textile parks at various places such as Vijayapura, Ballari and Chamarajanagar districts,

Ratnaprabha also added that the government intends to revise its Textile Policy and has sought views and comments from the stakeholders of textile industry. Once they receive the comments from the industry, they will revise their textile policy to make it more industry-friendly and the best in the country.

The amendment will be carried out to suit the interests and needs of the textile industry.

Speaking on the occasion, S K Panda, secretary, ministry of textiles, said that the Central government has set a target of achieving a 20 percent growth in the textile sector during the 12th Five Year Plan period as compared to 11 percent during the 11th Plan period. To achieve this target, the government has come out with a scheme of integrated textile park (SITP) in the country. Till now, several proposals have come and by March this year, around 7-8 parks will be approved.

He also called upon the state governments to come forward and identify large area for setting up of mega textile parks. Each of these mega textile parks should have at least 2,000 acres to 5,000 acres land so that the foreign direct investment could be attracted.

Unless the state governments come forward, it is not possible to develop mega textile parks as it requires large land area.

The government is also working towards training around 1.5 million people in the textile sector during the 12th Plan period. Of this, till now only 300,000 people have been trained.

The central government is ready to secure technological assistance from countries like China, France, Switzerland among others as well as provide the required infrastructure facilities.