GST to boost textile exports, says industry body

Textile industry in the region today welcomed the passage of GST bill by Rajya Sabha, terming it as one of the biggest and transformational reforms in the economic history of the country and said it would pave the way for growth of exports.

Thanking Prime Minister and the finance minister for this historic reform, Indian Texpreneurs Federation (ITF), an apex body of textile sector, expressed confidence about the positive impacts of GST on overall economic growth in the next few years and said it would make the manufacturing sector more competitive.

As far as the textile sector, being an essential item for the common man, textile items should be kept under GST with the minimum possible tax slab with the special rates, ITF Secretary Prabhu Dhamodharan said in a statement here.

It was an opportunity for the government to bring the entire textile sector under tax net and this move will bring more transparency in the system and will trigger growth, he said.

Tirupur Exporters' Association President A Shaktivel said GST would give a push for export of garments and described it as a "game changing" reforms.

In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he said exporters were happy to note that consensus had been built to pass the much-awaited GST Bill.

The industries and the people will get benefit out of the introduction of GST in the system, he said and requested the Finance Minister to address any issues arise in exports further to implementation of GST system.