India plans to set up readymade garment manufacturing units in each of the eight north eastern states to boost the textile industry in and export of readymade garments from the region. The garments would be exported to neighboring countries. Nearly Rs 18 crores will be provided for each readymade garment manufacturing unit. All the units would be run by small entrepreneurs. Around 300 women would be engaged in manufacturing garments in each unit.

The units are expected to meet the demand for garments from police and paramilitary forces in every state besides government officials as well as school uniforms. The government-run National Building Constructions Corporation would set up the units in Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Mizoram, Sikkim and Tripura. The foundation stones in Nagaland and Manipur were laid recently.

The textile ministry and state governments would observe the functioning of these units but would not play any role in their day-to-day work. The Northeastern states border China, Myanmar, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Nepal. Some of the states have trade ties with some of these countries, especially Bangladesh and Myanmar. India’s share in the global apparel and garment market is now just 3.7 per cent as against Bangladesh’s 6.1 per cent and Vietnam’s 4.3 per cent.