On the eve of council’s Award Function which is being held on 15th May 2006 at New Delhi. I take immense pleasure in inviting you for the Award Function and also congratulate the exporters who have achieved new milestone in their trade. From a level of Rs. 53.00 crore of exports during 1980-81 exports in 2004-05 have reached Rs. 2747 crores.

Despite heavy odds against silk in Europe and USA, Indian exporters could register a remarkable perfomance and let me hope that the silk exporters would achieve further growth in the coming year.

Our strength lies in supplying value added items, handloom made fabric and finished items. I urge all the exporters to utilize our inherent strength and create new designs and market them more vigorously than before.

Silk exports today have a share of about 1 % of total exports. Exports are bound to increase in course of time, if you also rise to the occasion and invest significantly for modernization, marketing and above all re-investment. There is no reason, why the Government would not help you in providing the assistance towards manufacturing and marketing and above all re-investment. Take for an example the MDA scheme made available to exporters and the scheme has become very popular amongst the exporters.

I once again congratulate my exporter friends and wish them all the best for the coming years.

Chairman,
The Indian Silk Export Promotion Council,
Mumbai.