Union Textile Minister Smriti Zubin Irani inaugurated an Apparel and Garment Making Center on Tuesday at Gumin Nagar, Pasighat in presence of Chief Minister Pema Khandu, Union MoS for Home, Kiren Rijiju, MoS for Textile, Ajay Tamta, State’s Textile, Handicrafts and Cooperation, Minister Tapang Taloh and Lok Sabha MP, Ninong Ering. Union Minister Irani said that Arunachal Pradesh has the potential to promote the textiles sector and give a fillip to entrepreneurship and job creation.

She informed that her ministry would set up six more incubation centers to bring modern ready-made garment industry in the state. This was one of the first organized efforts of Prime Minister Narendra Modi under the North East Region Textile Promotion Scheme (NERTPS) of the Ministry of Textiles.

She extended her gratitude to the state government for its active support and cooperation without which the mission would not have been possible. Congratulating the entrepreneurs who would be running the facility, the Minister assured all possible support to them in making the units commercially viable and self-sustainable.

It would give an opportunity to local entrepreneurs to convert their ideas and designs into flourishing businesses and opportunities to the unemployed trained youths and provide a fillip to the traditional sectors like handlooms and handicrafts to convert the traditional designs into modern garments and market opportunities, asserted the Union Minister.

She further added that she has directed her ministry to promote single window clearances, and reduce paperwork to the minimum wherever possible. She has already begun work on creating infrastructure for skills development and textile manufacturing, job creations and market linkages etc after recent announcement of Rs.6000 crore package by the union government.

Development of the Northeast region is high on the list of priorities but this will need concerted efforts in the face of the various obstacles that tend to derail economic development in the NER. The local products can get tremendous demands in national and international markets if properly channelized.

She also stated of holding a meeting with Chief Minister Pema Khandu, MoS Rijiju, MP Ninong Ering and state’s Textile Minister Taloh soon to find out way and means to boost textile sector in the state.

Speaking during the function, Chief Minister Pema Khandu has appealed to the youths to give up the pursuit of government jobs and become self-employed and also employ others with their skills and knowledge. They should take interest in entrepreneurships and promote export of indigenous products.

Commissioner Textile, T Taggu in his address presented a detail report on establishment of the Apparel and Garment Making Centre, Pasighat.

The incubation center has three units. Unit for skill development awarded to Technopact Advisors Pvt. Ltd, Gurgaon, second and third units awarded to Elam Industries Pvt. Ltd Pasighat and Viraj Export Pvt. Ltd respectively. The purpose of the incubation center is to impart training to youths of the state for their self employment. The mode of 200 trainees batch selection would be from all districts of the state.

Earlier, Minister Tapang Taloh appreciated the work of NBCC for timely completion of the Centre. The women folks of East Siang District are traditional weavers but they used old traditional methods of weaving and produced in small amount which are consumed locally. The traditional exquisite designs and motifs, which are incorporated by the weavers in the products using the traditional loin loom, is a tedious and time consuming process. Now they will get proper training and scopes in this field.