State plans apparel hub

Kolkata: The Mamata Banerjee government is planning to set up a modern apparel hub at Nungi in South 24 Parganas to boost readymade garment (RMG) industry in Metiaburuj. It will accommodate a portion of the unorganised Rs 20,000crore RMG industry of Metiaburuj as well as its entrepreneurs. State finance and industries minister Amit Mitra told TOI that the Nungi project was selected by chief minister Mamata Banerjee herself because of its huge potential for employment.“This is an ideal location for RMG project,” Mitra added.
According to finance and industries minister, the state government has already allotted land for the aparrel hub and and cost of construction would be Rs 300 crore. “The apparel hub will be housed in nine lakh sq ft space and would accommodate 520 units. The employment potential in this hub will be huge. The estimate is 15,200,” he added.
The state PWD on behalf of state government will set up the apparel hub. “PWD has already finished the planning. The project will hit the ground soon,” he added.
There are 5,000 RMG units in Metiaburuj along with 25 big RMG houses. The number of artisans is more than five lakh. The state government had organised a B2B fare for apparel industry this week where buyers from Dubai, Sri Lanka, Afghanisthan, South Africa and other countries participated along with buyers from other states. Metiaburuj is known for children and ladies apparel and men’s shirts. “A lot of big brands are also sourcing from Metiaburuj,” Mitra added.
Besides apparel hub, the state government on Thursday declared an exemption of e-way bill for all kind of job working activities within the state. “We have already issued a circular in this regard,” added Mitra.
Sanjay Jain, the chairman of Confederation of Textile Industries, welcome the move by the state government. “The apparel hub and exemption of e-way bill will be a big step. So many units are involved in this. All of them will be benefited,” he added.
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Subhro Maitra/TNN
Malda: In a first in West Bengal, the weavers of carpet of Malda will see project house which will be a giant leap to modernisation as well as export of carpets from here. The department of small scale industry has decided to set up a cluster project for the carpet weavers. The cluster would be set up at Sattari of English Bazaar where the weavers would get all their raw materials, colours and design. A team of Malda officials led by additional district magistrate Padam Sunam would visit the office of Obette Private Ltd of UP, a renowned exporter farm of carpet. The project has got an initial sanction of Rs 20 crore.
The team would comprise of Handloom Development Officer, Executive Engineer of PWD, Officer in Charge of Industries and carpet weavers. Taking lesson from there about the infrastructure and the demands of this industry, the project would be implemented at Malda. District Magistrate Koushik Bhattacharya said, “This project house being set up, the carpet workers would be able to export their products from here. Rs 20 crore was sanctioned for this project initially.” This is the first such project in West Bengal and it would contribute to the economy of the district, hoped DM.