WTO And Indian Textile Trade: Emerging Challenges

Abstract

India has the largest acreage under cotton in the world but yield is poor (308kg per hector). The country has a well developed textile industry of cotton as well as synthetic fibres/yarn supported by silk, wool and jute. The Textile Industry in India (including the garment industry) is contributed 6 percent of the gross domestic product and 18 percent of the total foreign exchange earnings of the country. Indian textile industry can be broadly classified into the organised sector comprising mechanized spinning and composite mills and the unorganized sector comprising power looms and handlooms. Textile sector generates largest employment next only to agriculture. Over 50 percent of the employees are women who help to sustain the family income. The garment industry alone provides employment to more than 4 million workers and   supports the people working in ancillary units.