New Delhi, Sep 10 (Inditop.com) The Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Institute of Textile Management in Coimbatore will be upgraded and renamed Indian School of Textiles, the government announced Thursday.

“The school will engage itself in research and will also undertake comprehensive consultancy services for the industry,” Textiles Minister Dayanidhi Maran told reporters here.

He did not say when the upgrading would be complete or the institute become operational.

The government also plans to build capacities for environment and social compliance with a view to capture overseas markets and meet global environmental standards.

All this, Maran said, was part of the ministry’s agenda for the coming 265 days.

“After the successful completion of 100 days’ agenda, we have a huge task cut out before us to maximize productivity and welfare of stakeholders and tackle the issues affecting the holistic growth and development of textiles industry.”

The ministry will also promote research and development in textiles sector including developing better handlooms to provide a “common technology platform” on commercial basis for promotion of new technologies to achieve value addition and product diversification.

Maran had said Aug 31 that an additional $1.5 billion of foreign exchange could be earned from the US market if there was a sustained effort.