The Powerloom Development and Export Promotion Council (PDEXCIL) on Wednesday called upon the Central Government to immediately halt the export of cotton as the targets have already been surpassed and also ensure that domestic demand was met.
Addressing a press conference here, PDEXCIL Vice Chairman (Southern Region) M. Duraisamy said that the Government must first ensure that domestic demand was met before allowing exports. The domestic demand was around 260 lakh bales every year.
The Director-General of Foreign Trade, on Monday, had issued a notification lifting the ban on cotton exports with around 84 lakh bales termed as “exportable surplus.” However, this level has been surpassed with around 95 lakh bales already exported. He also called upon the Tamil Nadu Government to expeditiously resolve the power crisis in the State which had hit hard the powerloom sector. An important effort in this direction, he said, would be resolving amicably the agitation against the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project. Mr. Duraisamy was in the city to take part in the inaugural of the fourth edition of Texpo 2012, an annual buyer- seller meet and exhibition of power loom fabrics and home textiles, being held here from Wednesday to Sunday.
Organised by PDEXCIL and Regional Office of Textile Commissioner, Coimbatore, the expo is being held with the objective to promote power loom products.
Speaking about the expo, he said that this was being held for the fourth consecutive year at Madurai, which showed the good response from the local people. During the last expo, business to the tune of Rs. 60 lakh was transacted with several follow-on orders as well
Besides providing an opportunity with regard to power loom products, the expo provided an opportunity for buyers to meet the manufacturers directly and buy their products at almost the manufacturing cost itself without any middle men being involved, he said.
G. Kummaravel, Assistant Director, Regional Office of Textile Commissioner, Coimbatore and S. Sivaraju, Regional Office in-charge, PDEXCIL Erode, were also present.
The expo venue is MADITSSIA Hall on the Dr. Ambedkar Road. The timings are between 9 a.m. and 8 p.m. The expo concludes on Sunday.
