INDIAN STUDENTS IN CARPET TECHNOLOGY TO HAVE INTERNSHIP IN NEW
ZEALAND
SHRI KASHIRAM RANA TO VISIT NEW ZEALAND
The Minister of Textiles,
Shri Kashiram Rana, is visiting New Zealand during May 19-23,
2003 to explore possibilities of increased cooperation in education
and technical collaboration in the field of carpet, wool, textile
and timber based handicrafts. Shri Rana will be accompanied by
a delegation comprising Development Commissioner (Handicrafts);
Chairman, Carpet Export Promotion Council (CEPC) and Director,
Indian Institute of Carpet Technology (IICT), Bhadohi. The visit
will focus on establishing and developing an internship programme
with Wool Research Organisation of New Zealand (WRONZ), a premier
International Institute of Research and Development in wool, carpet
and textiles for the Indian students specialising in carpet technology
at Indian Institute of Carpet Technology (IICT), Bhadohi, the
only Institute of its kind in Asia which has commenced B.Tech.
courses in carpet and textiles technology from the year 2001.
Shri Rana’s visit is expected to open up avenues of increased
cooperation between the two countries.
The IICT and the
WRONZ have been actively considering collaboration in technical
and education programme for IICT as it will lead to the mutual
benefits of both countries in terms of increased trade of graded
carpet wool from New Zealand, augmenting exports of Indian carpets
through improved quality of wool and enhanced spectrum of product
development. Shri Rana is visiting New Zealand to finalise the
whole collaboration package with the Government of New Zealand
and WRONZ, particularly, in the field of student and staff internship,
commencement of International Distance Learning Programme in the
local carpet and textiles industry, training and education programme
and technology related to wool, carpet and textiles. The collaboration
also will look at evolving a supply chain mechanism so that the
value addition effected on account of increased quality of wool
will benefit the carpet sector to have access in the higher market
segment and also to add more value to the carpet. It will enable
the Indian carpet industry to initiate international accreditation
process.
As New Zealand is
very rich in timber, the Indian delegation will also explore the
possibilities of importing timber which has international forest
accreditation so that the same could be utilise by the handicrafts
industry adding more value to the timber based handicrafts sector
in India. Shri Rana will be visiting the Forest Research Institute
of New Zealand to explore possibility of technology cooperation
in the field of timber based handicrafts.
The recent years
have witnessed an increased trade opportunity between New Zealand
and India. Imports from New Zealand to India during 2002 have
reached a record level of NZ$192 million, an increase of 16 per
cent over the previous year. The exports from India to New Zealand
have also interestingly totalled NZ$192 million, showing a marginal
growth of two per cent but representing a wide variety of the
manufacturing sector. At present, India imports a large quantity
of wool amounting to NZ$55.98 million for the carpet industry
and other sectors. New Zealand Government’s cooperation will be
sought during the visit for providing Indian wool growing industry
the know how of the best practices followed in that country. This
will help in improvement in quality of Indian wool, which is an
obvious blend partner of New Zealand wool used by the Indian carpet
industry.
