Rana, who toured various parts of Gujarat to interact with industrialists, told a press conference that the centre had planned a project for the revival of the textile sector that had been passing through a critical phase for want of latest technology.

The government had planned a textile policy and had setup an expert committee under the chairmanship of leading industrialist SR Satyam to study the matter. The committee had been asked to submit its report by the year end, he said.

Under the new policy, a Rs 25,000 crore fund would be created for technology upgradation with the support of financial institutions and development banks.

Under the World Trade Organisation (WTO), there would be large foreign demand for Indian cloths. Therefore it had become necessary to produce qualityproducts, he said.

To improve the quality of products and help the farmers get remunerative price, the government had decided to provide best cotton seeds, set up modern ginning presses or upgrade the old ones and raise good markets, Rana said.

He assured those involved with saree printing units of Jetpur in Rajkot district that he would urge the finance ministry to exempt the industry from excise duty as the operation was manual.