Inaugural Address At Silver Jubilee Celebrations Of Knitcma

ADDRESS

I am delighted to participate in the Inauguration of the Silver jubilee Celebrations of Knit Cloth Manufacturers Association - KNITCMA, Tirupur and I would like to extend my warm felicitations to the Association members and the people of Tirupur. On this momentous occasion, I express my deep admiration for the sterling achievements of the people of Tirupur for making this small township such a renowned place in the country's economic map and the global textile scenario.

Internationally acclaimed as the "Knit City", Tirupur has not only evolved as the most noteworthy apparel cluster in the country but has also served as a path-finder to the rest of the clusters in the country. Tirupur and "knitwear-boom" have not only become synonymous but its reputation of being able to service international quality compliances has made this city the hub of hosiery production in the country. Tirupur's current direct export of garments has crossed Rs.4500 crore mark in terms of foreign exchange earnings during 2001-02 as against India's total knitwear export of Rs.50 crores in 1980. Producing more than 56% of the knitwear exported from India besides catering to a domestic market of over Rs.1000 crores per annum, Tirupur knitwear manufacturers have recorded an impressive and consistent incremental growth rate of 12% annually. This is a laudable achievement. No wonder, Tirupur has been declared as one of the "Towns of Export Excellence" under the Exim Policy of years 2002-07.

PRESIDENT'S JOINT ADDRESS

During my Joint Address to the Parliament I had stated and I quote "The textile sector is grappling with the challenges of a globalised market and problems created by slow modernization. Nine Apparel Parks have been sanctioned for setting up garment units with state-of-the-art machinery." I am happy to note that Tirupur figures as one of the Parks. The Rs.210 crore Apparel Park will showcase Tirupur Knitwear Industry's prowess capabilities. The Netaji Apparel Park when it becomes operational will provide major buyers a single stop destination meeting all labour/environmental international standards to give fillip to domestic production units to meet international competition.

FUTURE PERSPECTIVE

I am happy to note that the knitwear industry of Tirupur is determined to attain an export target of Rs.10,000 crores by 2005 and Rs.1,00,000 crores by 2020. With such unrelenting efforts, Tirupur which has already carved a niche for itself in the knitwear market would soon acquire the image of a prestigious and mature International Knitwear Centre. I am told that almost every household in the town undertakes some activity directly linked to the knitwear industry. The traditional institution of "thottams" have shown their resilience in adapting itself to the new organizational framework of hosiery units. The knitwear industry has been working smoothly through a web of small residence operated factories to mid-size units which undertake the task of spinning cotton into yarns, knitting yarn into fabric, processing and stitching off fabric besides performing contracting and sourcing arrangements. A whole range of industrial units catering to ancillary functions such as manufacture of packing material, stitching material, buttons, zips, tapes have burgeoned thereby providing employment to more than three lakh persons.

The concept of Developed India by 2020 or popularly called Vision 2020 means that all Indian people should be prosperous by the year 2020. For wealth to be available for every Indian the key element is productive work - rather productive employment. I emphasise the word productive. To be productive one should be able to add value through skills, or intellectual activity or by manual labour or a combination. Value addition will fetch wealth only when the market or really speaking the consumers are satisfied with the added value and the overall satisfaction derived from the goods or services rendered.

It is necessary to impart such skills and knowledge to most of the Indians especially those who are in the economically lower strata of the Indian society. It is done not by mere education in letters or numbers. It requires entrepreneurship to spot good economic opportunities, and to have a vision to seize new opportunities.

It is the vision of an entrepreneur which creates new demands for technology, design, management, business and newer levels of productivity and skills. Thus entrepreneurship is an important engine for economic growth. Visionary entrepreneurs, though they may start in a very small scale, create a new world of opportunities. They draw people, even unskilled persons and transform them into a great human resources. They not only will be a great resource in the local market, but also in the global market.

The whole area in-an-around Coimbatore particularly Tirupur is blessed with a large number of visionary entrepreneurs in various fields ranging from agriculture, agro processing, herbal products, manufacturing for various sectors, new technologies, education, healthcare, traditional systems of medicare, and various service industries.

Tiruppur is one of the crown jewels in this process of entrepreneurship. The knitwear revolution by the enterprises in Tiruppur has been a pride of place in the country. The fact that this economic and entrepreneurial revolution has been achieved without dependence on the government shows that our people have lots of talents and that they can reach great heights if they have DREAM, WILL, AND DECIDE TO ACT.

I am aware that the business persons have got together to solve the shortage of electricity by themselves acting cooperatively. I am aware of initiation of your efforts to recycle the waste water. You have shown the way for cooperation along with competition.

Another major socio-economic revolution of Tiruppur is to draw women on a large scale in the value adding jobs. This has been a great significance for the country. An economically empowered woman can empower her family and can give her children good education, skills and values.

Let us now look at the future. Can you rest on your past and present. The global forces, WTO, media - everything is at continuous action. Media shows new styles consumer preference will change. Other countries will come to set in your market in Indian and abroad.

So what is the solution ? Continuously innovate. Try to think beyond the usual beaten paths. For example the country is rich in traditional design whether it is the Kuravas or Thodas of Tamil or different parts of south or say Rajasthan or North East - there are wonderful colours, wonderful designs residing in homes. You cannot apply them in the traditional ways. Then the productivity will be poor. Use modern IT and textile engineering techniques, - new chemical methods of surface finish.

TECHNOLOGY AND VALUE ADDITION

Potential for value addition in a product per employee in comparison with few countries is given in the Graph. We have to work hard in Value addition techniques in our manufacturing industries, core competency of skilled manpower, raw materials, capital equipment that need up gradation. A Movement, methodology for value addition has to be given thrust.

MISSION FOR THE MILLENNIUM

Create a sound policy environment to help the sector cope with the emerging challenges of globalization. Measures to include :-

� Special thrust on modernization and technology up gradation of existing units.

� Special package for promotion and development of small and village enterprises

� Consortium of Indian R&D labs and Industries is essential to gain design development that will give strength in competitiveness.

Integrated action for developed India

We have identified five areas where India has a core competence for an integrated action: (1) Agriculture and food processing - we have to put a target of 360 million tons of food and agricultural production. Other areas of agriculture and agro food processing would bring prosperity to rural people and speed up the economic growth. (2) Reliable and quality electric power for all parts of the country. (3) Education and Healthcare - we have seen, based on the experience, education and healthcare are inter related and assist population control leads to social security and also national security. (4) Information Technology - This is one of our core competence. We believe, this area can be used to promote education in remote areas and also to create national wealth. (5) Strategic sectors - This area, fortunately, witnessed the growth in nuclear technology, space technology and defence technology.

These five areas are closely inter-related and lead to national, food, economic and security. A strong partnership among the R&D, academy, industry, business and the community as a whole with the Government departments and agencies will be essential to accomplish the vision.

Concluding Remarks : Inspiring the great mission

For building the developed India, what are needed? We have resources and we have human power. There are 700 million people below 35 years in the population of a billion people. Then nation needs young leaders who can command the change for transformation of India into a developed nation embedded with knowledge society from now to twenty years. The leaders are the creators of new organizations of excellence. Quality leaders are like magnets who will attract the best of persons to build the team for the organization and give the inspiring leadership even during failures of individuals or organization as they are not afraid of risks. I have seen and worked with creators of vision and missions. The vision ignites particularly the young mind.

You can create wonderful new products for the world - being continuously be the leader.

I am recalling an inspiring call that was the sweet salt of my life:

"When you are inspired by some great purpose, some extraordinary project, all your thoughts break their bounds: Your mind transcends limitations, your consciousness expands in every direction, and you find yourself in a new, great, and wonderful world. Dormant forces, faculties, and talents become alive, and you discover yourself to be a greater person by far than you ever dreamed yourself to be".

Can you think of who would have said this? It is the 34th Yoga Sutras, Maha Rishi Patanjali. Let this saintly saying enter into your minds and transform the young of India to sweat for creating 'developed India' in two decades.