Date:25/05/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/05/25/stories/2006052508430500.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Textile Committee inks pacts with 65 partners

Special Correspondent

They will help panel take trade-related issues to grassroots and address pro-poor issues

CHENNAI: The Textile Committee has signed memoranda of understanding with 65 partners, representing trade and manufacturing associations and civil society organisations, to synergise activities taken up under its programmes and formulate strategies for implementing them.

Participating in a programme, `Strategies and preparedness for trade and globalisation in India in textiles and clothing sector,' organised by the Textile Committee and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) here on Wednesday, Textile Committee Director P. Nayak said these partners would help the Committee take trade-related issues to the grassroots so as to address pro-poor issues.

Agreements would soon be signed with 300 more stakeholders.

The focus

Dr. Nayak said the focus of the activities was to strengthen human and institutional capacities of stakeholders.

As the poorer segments of manufacturers and traders were the most affected groups in the globalised era, it was necessary to sensitise them to the new trade rules and regulations.

Kailas Karthikeyan of the UNCTAD said the UN organisation was implementing the programme countrywide through a network of stakeholders.

The organisation would help to solve the issues of stakeholders, which were linked to the World Trade Organisation.