Indian Minister of Textiles Shri Vaghela has called upon the silk industry to use push innovation in the area of silk production. He stipulated that the quality of raw silk must be improved and that a variety of products should also be added.

Speaking at the 20th Export Award Function, organised by the Indian Silk Export Promotion Council in New Delhi, Shri Vaghela said that quality improvement would lead to increased unit value realisation and higher exports. The minister added that the government would provide full cooperation to the silk sector, especially in terms of industry expansion and marketing, stating that the setting up of a Silk Technology Mission similar to the Technology Mission on Cotton would also be considered.

Highlighting the employment potential in the silk sector, he said that the creation of employment in the sericulture sector and the post-cocoon silk industry is very significant and that, when silk exports increase, thousands of jobs could be created.

He also urged the silk industry to be more active in the field of market research and development.