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News that Matter Panel for conducive norms NEW DELHI: An inter-ministerial committee, set up to promote the use of technical textiles, has suggested a regulatory framework for the segment, which is projected to grow to Rs 29,579 crore by 2008 against the existing Rs 19,130 crore in the domestic market. “The report, expected to be submitted next week, covers the use of geo-synthetics in infrastructure projects, fire-retardant textile and use of non-woven disposables in hospitals,” a senior official in the textile ministry said. The expert committee has identified 18 segments to facilitate entrepreneurial activity, which include needle punch project, geogrid project, compression garment, conversion of healthcare disposables, fibrefill, safety and protective textiles. The committee comprised officials from the ministries of defence, home affairs, health & family welfare and environment to examine the feasibility of regulations mandating the use of technical textiles. India accounts for a minuscule 1% of the global production and is a major importer of the technical textile goods. Its domestic demand is $6.7 billion of which it produced just 1.9 billion. The committee has proposed theme-based parks, more funds for R&D and textile machinery under technology upgrade fund scheme. The government has already placed major machinery for production of technical textiles in the concessional list and attracts 55 customs duty. The global market for the segment was $93 billion in 2000 and is projected to go up to $127 billion by 2010. The sector account for a 25% of all fibre consumed throughout the world and up to 40% of the textile industry in industrialised countries. Apparel giant to expand in India MUMBAI:Top Sri Lankan apparel exporter Brandix will triple investments in Sri Lanka this year to over $ 30 million, as expansion plans in India also gets underway. Brandix is the island’s largest exporter, with investments in Sri Lanka growing from Rs 489 million ($ 4.8 million) in 2003-04 to an estimated Rs 3.2 billion rupees ($ 32 million) this financial year. Part of the investments to date have been in a one billion rupee denim manufacturing and washing plant at Seethawaka as well as a Rs 280 million investment in Brandix Activewear – turning out sports and performance clothing. Other investments include doubling of Brandix’s finishing capacity to support the expansion of denim as well as a 66 percent capacity expansion at Brandix Textiles at a cost of Rs 470 million, among other upgrades. Also on the cards for this year is a Rs 780 million lingerie project for the high tech production of bras, Ashroff Omar, Chief Executive Officer of Brandix told journalists on Friday. “Our commitment to Sri Lanka is unflagging and our investments have grown seven fold since 2003-2004.” The company is however also expanding into India as a springboard into top global markets including the United States. Clear cut SEZ policy on the anvil: PM NEW DELHI: Reacting to a spate of controversies, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh gave a categorical assurance that the government will clear the cobwebs in the policy relating to Special Economic Zones (SEZs) and said that a fresh look would be given to the act in this regard. These remarks from the Prime Minister came when he agreed to take questions from the audience, following his address at the inaugural session of the official mega conference at Vijayan Bhavan, titled 'Building Infrastructure.' A number of questions relating to the controversy on SEZs came up and Dr Manmohan Singh asked Finance Minister P Chidambaram and Commerce and Industry Minister Kamal Nath to reply to these. Both the Ministers were on the dais. The two key Ministers said land acquisition was in the concurrent list and it was for the state governments to draw out a suitable policy in this regard. They said that for the purposes of SEZs, the acquired land must not be agricultural land but wasteland. They said industry has always been acquiring land, but the issue came into prominence with regard to SEZs. Chidambaram said there were no differences between his Ministry and the Commerce Ministry on the subject as was being made out to bem, and added that SEZs have evoked great investor confidence. The Prime Minister also said the government has yet to take a decision as to whether there will be a single regulator for the infrastructure sector or different regulators for different sectors. CCI for opening of borders for trade JAMMU: With India and Pakistan resuming talks, Chamber of Commerce and Industries (CCI) here today demanded opening of borders for trade traffic across the international border and line of control (LOC) via Jammu and Kashmir. Addressing a press conference, CCI President Ram Sahai demanded opening of trade routes between Nowshera-Mirpur and Suchetgarh-Sialkot. ''We have been emphasising that if these two routes are opened for trade traffic and trade delegations that will usher the entire region into a new era of peace progress and economic prosperity,'' Sahai said. During the recent visit of CCI members to Pakistan, he said, ''we have identified the tradeable items in consultation with the trade bodies of Pakistan and POK.'' ''We are assured if these routes are opened the people across border will not only welcome it but will be more benefited as far as trade and commerce is concerned,'' Sahai added.