Sewing machine industry seeks R&D centre to compete with Chinese products

Ludhiana: With only two days to go for Punjab budget, sewing machine industry in Ludhiana has urged the state government to fulfil their long-pending demands including setting up of dedicated industrial areas and research and development (R&D) centre.
Businessmen said if dedicated industrial areas and R&D centre are announced, it would be game-changer for the industry that has been unable to compete with Chinese products.
Amarjit Singh Swan, president of Ludhiana Sewing Machine Industries Association (LSMIA), said, “Despite being one of the oldest industries in Ludhiana, sewing machine units are still working in very unorganised way. There are hardly 10% units that are in recognised industrial areas which is why we have been unable to achieve success as compared to our potential. We urge finance minister Harpal Cheema to either announce a dedicated industrial area for our industry in this budget, or revive the defunct Raikot industrial cluster for sewing machine industry under new terms, including discount on previous rates of land.”
Jatinder Nagpal, finance secretary of LSMIA, said, “It is unfortunate that despite a huge demand for computerised and semi-computerised sewing machines in India, the industry in Ludhiana has been unable to manufacture the same. Our biggest demand in this budget is that the government should set up a state of the art R&D Centre in Ludhiana for manufacturing of high-end sewing machines. If the state government takes this initiative, it will bring new industrial revolution in Punjab.”
Varinder Rakheja, former president of Sewing Machine Dealers and Assemblers Association, said, “The state government should announce an industry-friendly budget. Besides announcing one-time settlement scheme for settling all pending VAT assessment cases, a dedicated portal should be launched for existing industry where we can apply for all permissions and compliances related to different departments”