FAISALABAD, Dec 12: Bumper cotton crop has provided the country an opportunity to increase manifold its textile exports. This was stated by Federal Textile Industry Minister Mushtaq Ali Cheema while speaking to the members of Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FCCI) here on Saturday.

Underlining the importance of textile sector in the national economy, he said the government had taken a right step by creating a separate ministry of textile industry and handing over its portfolio to Faisalabad.

He said the textile was one of the biggest sectors - spreading from cotton seed to garments export. "The ministry will not only maintain a strategic balance among all the related sectors but also facilitate them to grow and develop, and play its role in increasing country's share in international markets", he said.

On the problems raised by the FCCI president, he said the government had restored confidence of the private sector. Viable policies were also being framed with the consultation of stakeholders. He said that four billion dollar investment in the textile sector during the last four years had played a major role in its upgrading.