Kalaburagi has the potential to emerge as a major textile and industrial hub with the development of the PM Mega Integrated Textile Regions and Apparel (PM MITRA) Park, said Kalyana Karnataka Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Sharanabasappa M. Pappa.

Speaking after inaugurating an export promotion workshop for prospective exporters in the textile sector here on Thursday, Mr. Pappa said Kalaburagi was among the seven locations selected for the PM MITRA Park by the Union government.

He said the Kalyana Karnataka Region Development Board had provided ₹200 crore and the State government was developing the park on 1,000 acres. The project had the potential to generate employment for a large number of people, he said.

Mr. Pappa said awareness about exporting textile and agricultural products was still limited in the region. Though Kalaburagi’s toor dal had received a Geographical Indication (GI) tag, the product was not being directly exported from the district. Instead, traders from Gujarat and Maharashtra were procuring it from the region and exporting it to other countries, he said.

Local entrepreneurs should come forward to directly export toor dal and textile products and make use of the incentives and facilities offered by the government and the Department of Handlooms and Textiles, he said. This would help Kalaburagi emerge as an important industrial hub, he added.

Abdul Azeem, Joint Director of the District Industries Centre, said cement, pulses and bentonite products were already being exported from Kalaburagi. Efforts were being made to help local entrepreneurs take their products directly to international markets, he said.

He said the district administration was also taking steps to improve infrastructure, including facilities required for the proposed mega textile park. A six-day Export Management Training Programme was being organised to familiarise entrepreneurs with various aspects of export business. Interested entrepreneurs could contact the newly established office of the Visvesvaraya Trade Promotion Centre (VTPC) at the District Industries Centre, he said.

B. Vittal Raju, Joint Director of the Handlooms and Textiles Department, North Zone, said exporting was not restricted to large businesses and that small and medium entrepreneurs could also enter international markets. Government agencies would provide the necessary support to those willing to take up exports, he said.

He urged entrepreneurs to contribute to the regional and national economy by bringing in foreign exchange and said the district administration aimed to develop Kalaburagi as an industrial and textile hub.

KGTI Director Rajesh Bavagi said educational institutions, industries and the government needed to work together to create more employment opportunities and take products from Kalaburagi and surrounding areas to global markets.

Kumareshan, scientist of the Central Silk Board, Bengaluru, and export consultant Nagaveni explained the opportunities available to textile and silk entrepreneurs and the government support available for exports.

Officials and representatives of the VTPC, the Department of Handlooms and Textiles, the KKCCI and several entrepreneurs attended the workshop.