Garment park to come up at Kathwada?

The state government on Saturday said it was willing to allot land at Kathwada to the Gujarat Garment Manufacturers Association (GGMA) for setting up a garment manufacturing park.

"We have identified a 20 hectare-plot of land owned by GIDC at Kathwada, and are willing to allot it to the GGMA for setting up a garment manufacturing park," industries minister Saurabh Patel said at the inauguration function of the 17th Garment Fair organised by GGMA.

The government had earlier earmarked 59 lakh sq feet of land at Rakhial for the garment park. However, the land could not be allotted due to a court case.

GGMA president Vijay Purohit told reporters later, "Considering the rate at which the garment industry in Gujarat is growing, we welcome the government's plans to allot land at Kathwada for the garment park. In fact, we would also like to have the land at Rakhial and other sites for developing garment parks."

Purohit also said that the parks will mostly cater to the domestic market. He added however that it was difficult to determine the investment the parks would attract, in absence of more details.

Speaking at the inauguration, Patel exhorted the garment manufacturers to think big keeping in mind their strengths and weaknesses.

"The garment industry needs to concentrate on proper marketing and come out with innovative designs to develop the market,” he said.