India’s Exports of Textile and Textile Products and Environmental Requirements

Project Team: Dr. K.S. Kavi Kumar, Dr. Zareena Begum I and Dr. Sukanya Das.

Time Period: Started in June 2008

Objectives:

To study the supply chain of textile industry from global and Indian perspective to learn about, the temporal and cross-country changes, and responses of the industry to changes in (global and domestic) policy environment, respectively. To analyze the competitive performance of Indian textile exports (of a few identified products) in the US and EU markets. To review actions taken by textile importing countries to restrict or ban or reduce access to exports of textile and clothing from developing countries like India. To review policies and practices adopted by other major exporting countries, especially China in coping with global environmental requirements. To assess the preparedness of the industry, particularly the dyeing, printing, mercerizing and wastewater effluent treating segments, in meeting the domestic and global environmental requirements, and to estimate the normative or actual environmental compliance costs along with their influence on export competitiveness. A related issue is to analyze the growth and production issues in textile sector from sustainability perspective. The sustainability issues could include conservation of inputs such as power and water, treatment of pollution on soil, air and water, and to address health and safety of personnel.  To learn about perceptions and awareness of textile exporters about the global environmental requirements and the problems they face in complying with the requirements. To suggest support system for meeting the environmental compliance requirements, with emphasis on roles of government, industry, exporters, technical institutions, non-governmental organizations, consumers and international organizations. A related issue is to analyze the scope for investment in cleaner technologies in textile industry through clean development mechanism proposed under the Kyoto Protocol of global climate change regime. To review and comment on ongoing debate on organic cotton farming and its implications on India’s export competitiveness and environmental sustainability.