Khadi Exports Potential is Huge: Suresh Prabhu

Khadi is getting great demand from the overseas markets. In order to capitalize this opportunity, Minister for Commerce and Industry Suresh Prabhu said export prospect for Khadi goods is beyond doubt as global customers are increasingly seeking eco-friendly goods.

Speaking at a roundtable discussion on taking KHADI organized by Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, Prabhu said, "The export prospects of Khadi is resting assured with the world moving towards natural and Eco-friendly Products. More and more people are becoming conscious of responsibility towards the environment and ecology and greater demand is being generated for bio-degradable and Eco-friendly products."

"It is for this reason the new MEIS 2015-20 policy also emphasizes on export incentives on eco-friendly textiles giving it a 34% growth last years from 52,000 crores to 70,000 crores turn over," he added.

The minister said that while textile sector being the largest source of employment generation in the country contributing to country’s 15% exports; the share of Khadi sector is very low (less than 0.22%) in the total textile sector. 

"Hence focus on exports of this sector becomes important.End to end marketing strategy with support from trading houses and academic institutes like IIFT is the need of the hour," he said.

KHADI AND Village Industries Commission chairman V.K.Saxena, who was the Guest of honour, said, "Its export worthiness also comes from the fact that Indian Khadi earns a lot of water and carbon foot print since it requires only 3 litres of water as compared to 56 liters in other fabrics."

IIFT Director Manoj Pant pointed out that apart from the supply side constraints for raw material procurement and production, there is also a strong need for establishing a strong demand in global markets.

"This will require the innovation in terms of diversification in product and market. Lack of product diversification is quite visible through limited export basket of Khadi which currently includes silk and muslin, readymade garments, textile-based Khadi and charkha," he said.