India’s textiles and clothing exports stood at US$ 19.15 billion in 2006-2007 and improved to US$ 22.14 billion in 2007-2008. Textiles and clothing exports came down to US$ 20.94 billion in 2008-2009. However, in rupee terms the exports of textiles and clothing during 2008-2009 were of the order of Rs.96,309 crore as against Rs.89,121 crore in 2007-08, thus representing an appreciation of 8.07%. In absolute terms, the textiles and clothing exports as percentage of India’s total exports declined from 15.16% in 2006-2007 to 13.59% in 2007-2008 and further to 11.47% in 2008-2009. As per advance information received from some segments of the industry, there has been a considerable decline in the exports of readymade garment and cotton products during the first two quarters of the current financial year. This was stated by the Minister of State of Textiles, Smt . Panabaaka Lakshmi in the Lok Sabha today, in a written reply to a question by Shri Hansraj G. Ahir, Shri Jagdish Sharma and Dr. Murli Manohar Joshi.
The Government has been holding discussions at the highest levels with textiles and garment exporters to find out ways and means to counter the adverse effect of the global economic slowdown on India’s textiles exports. Various incentives have been introduced or enhanced for the sector under the Foreign Trade Policy 2009-2014, the Minister added.
