Keeping in view the inevitable need for globalisation and to play a proactive role the Textile Engineering Industry (TEI) has accepted that updated technology, improvement in quality with prompt after sales service will be the main strength to face the fierce competition both in the domestic and international markets. The TMMA (I) as a representative body of the TEI has embarked upon the following main planks to achieve this goal :-

a) Development of Modern Technology :
The economic and trade liberalisation has opened up vistas for setting up joint ventures in India with majority equity participation or even establishing units with 100% direct foreign investment. Transfer of only technical know-how is the activity of the past which has become difficult in the present circumstances. The TEI which was mostly dependent on foreign technical know-how, has to gear up its own Research and Development activities for future survival.

In this context, the TEI has ventured into setting up of a Textile Machinery Research & Development Centre at the Indian Institute of Technology, Mumbai with the intention of developing modern technology machinery. This is a long term vision of becoming self-sufficient in technology development. The above project is coupled with academic training in textile machinery for the engineering graduates leading to post-graduation in textile machinery. This is the only unique course for Textile Machinery mooted in and around entire Asia. Over the last 4 years, 30 post graduates have undergone training in `textile machinery’ and a full-fledged post-graduation course leading to creation of Faculties required for the Textile Machinery Development Centre is in progress.

The above projects are having necessary backing of the Government of India.

Initially, development projects are taken up in the fairly compact textile machinery development laboratory. These efforts will fully benefit the domestic textile and textile engineering industries. Moreover, the Centre will facilitate textile and textile engineering industries in the neighbouring and other developing countries of the world in availing training and developmental facilities for their requirements.

In sum, TEI is determined to carry out Research and Development of both highly sophisticated and `appropriate’ technology machines and equipment for supply to the textile industry of the world.

b) Export Thrust :
Under the restricted trade policy regime, the TEI was fairly meeting the demand of the domestic textile industry which is the second largest in the world. Hence vigorous export promotional activities were not undertaken in the past though the TEI was capable of supplying machinery of modern technology in a big way to the international markets. Even so, it had exported about 30% of its annual turnover to the developing and developed countries. Exports were made to the South and South-East Asian Regions besides Central Asia, European countries, African countries and countries in Latin America. The TEI has set up turnkey and semi-turnkey projects in Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Kenya, Algeria etc.

Keeping in view of the capability of TEI to produce and supply modern quality machinery both to the domestic and export markets and considering the tremendous potential for exports, the TMMA (I) has realised the need to have a well-defined industry-wide export thrust with the common objective but at the same time, well organised and adhering to certain strict norms. It has therefore formulated an Action Plan with the specific objective of doubling the exports of textile machinery and accessories not only in the existing markets but also to set a foothold in the new markets around the globe, develop and nurture them as a long term strategy.

The Action Plan has been divided into specific segments for easy implementation namely –

1) Domestic Front :
a) to cover action by TMMA (I) in respect of -
      i) Domestic activities
      ii) International activities
b) Action by members who are committed to such export thrust activities.
c) Action by Government Departments and other controlling authorities concerned.

2) Foreign Front :
Concerted and extensive appraisal of the export markets coupled with co-ordination with relative organisations to exploit/improve the markets to achieve specific targets in buyer countries.

In this behalf a separate export cell is being strengthen.

This does not mean that the industry is neglecting tapping of the vast domestic market. Interaction is held from time to time with the user industry about the updation of technology offered by TEI with details of the products along with their productivity, specifications and the price range.

With the above mentioned two-pronged approach in Research and Development and Export Thrust activities there will be greater interaction with the Ministries of Heavy Industries, Textiles, Commerce & Industry and Finance, the Office of the Textile Commissioner, Textile Research Institutes as well as the representative organisations of the user industries. Technology Upgradation Fund Scheme for the Textile and Jute Industries launched from 1st April, 1999 is one of the instances that has come into being due to such interactions etc. and the Industry is hoping to get a similar Scheme instituted for its own upgradation and modernisation activities.

On the whole, the TEI visualises in globalising its products by meeting the competition effectively in technology, price and prompt after sales service.