Karnataka announces Jeans Park near Ballari, bets on Bangladesh political uncertainties

In a bid to capitalise on the opportunities arising from political uncertainty in Bangladesh, Karnataka announced its plans on Thursday to establish a Jeans Park by the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board (KIADB) at Sajanjeerayanakote, near Ballari.

Spread across 154 acres, the proposed Jeans Park is expected to attract significant investments in the denim manufacturing sector. Large and Medium Industries Minister M.B. Patil confirmed that the land acquisition for the project has been completed.

Highlighting the potential of the project, Patil said that globally renowned companies are expected to establish their presence in the proposed park. “The unstable situation in Bangladesh has prompted investors and exporters to explore alternatives, and Ballari has emerged as a favourable destination. We aim to capitalise on this by attracting significant investments in the jeans sector,” he said.

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Ballari, a hub for jeans manufacturing, already houses around 500 jeans production units. Meanwhile, Bangladesh, a major exporter of global brands like Zara and H&M, has faced substantial challenges following political instability caused by the sudden resignation and departure of Sheikh Hasina.

China and Bangladesh are H&M’s largest production markets, according to the global player’s official supplier data.

Indian textile companies are stepping into the spotlight as global players diversify their supply lines. Apparel manufacturer Gokaldas Exports, for instance, has announced expansion plans to capitalise on this opportunity. “The company plans to expand in Bhopal and South India. Additionally, we may consider increasing capacity in Ranchi, Jharkhand. Our strong order book indicates robust near-term prospects, with a favourable long-term outlook driven by the ongoing shift in global sourcing away from China and Bangladesh,” said Sivaramakrishnan Ganapathi, Vice Chairman and Managing Director of Gokaldas Exports.

Union Minister of Textiles Giriraj Singh has also emphasised the government’s commitment to supporting the industry. The textile ministry aims to grow the sector to $300 billion by 2030, creating employment for 6 crore people along the textile value chain, he said during the inauguration of Indian Institute of Handloom Technology (IIHT) Fulia campus in West Bengal.

India’s textile exports have witnessed growth, October exports increasing by 11.56 per cent year-on-year (YoY) to $1,833.95 million. Apparel exports during the same period surged by an impressive 35 per cent.