Exports – Rs 1500 crores (2004) – 1100 crores (2002)

Structure:

• Manufacturer Exporters
  
• Merchant Exporters
  
• Manufacturers for exports
  
• Domestic Suppliers

Broad Product Profile:

Furnishing Fabrics

• Bed Linen
  
• Kitchen Linen
  
• Toilet Linen
  
• Table Linen
  
• Curtains
  
• Other furnishing articles
  
• Other made ups
  

Industry Profile:

Strengths:

• Good raw material base
  
• Strong Heritage and traditional value for Handloom goods
  
• Dynamic entreneurs to face challenges
  
• Skilled and cheap labour force
  
• Experienced supplier based for production servies and intermediate goods
  
• Many firms are self sufficient in finance
  
• Existence of major nationalized and commercial banks
  
• Strong private finance base
  
• Adaptability of entpreneuers for product diversification and low volume orders
  
• Existence of good communications facility
  
• Well connected to nearyby ports – Chennai, Tuticorin, Cochin, and ICD – Karur Tirupur

Long Term Objectives:

1. To upgrade skill of operators like fabric checkers, sewing machine operatives, dyeing operatives
   
2. To upgrade skill of supervisors
   
3. To upgrade the skill of the executives
   
4. To obtain ISO 9001:: 2000 QMS certification
   
5. To obtain other standards such aas ISO 14000: 1996 EMS, SA 8000:2001, OHSAS 18001:1999

The best information on the industry is available on the India Government website http:// texmin.nic.in. It contains a large number of reports, recommendations and suggestions made from time to time by various expert groups and bodies.

Other important information on India can be obtained on www.nic.in