India currently exports 6 billion US dollars worth of garments,"whereas with the WTO (World Trade Organization) regime in place, we should aim to enhance exports to over 18 billion US dollars by 2010," Indo-Asian News Service quoted Kalam, in his address while presenting national awards to master craftsmen and weavers, as saying.
Kalam suggested a five-pronged strategy for this, including thecreation of exclusive design centers that would draw from fashion design centers of the country.
He listed the other areas as developing the national market, elevating the skills of weavers and upgrading looms, creating an "India brand" for handloom products through a countrywide project, and ensuring availability of yarn at reasonable prices to the weavers.
