Uncertainty in Bangladesh can bring more business to jeans industry in Karnataka: Minister

Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi visited a garments factory and home-based tailoring units to interact with people engaged in the business, in Ballari during Bharat Jodo padayatra in October 2022.
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Political uncertainty in Bangladesh has created an opportunity to bolster the jeans industry in Ballari, a traditional hub for the fabric in Karnataka, according to Large and Medium Industries Minister M.B. Patil. He announced that a ‘Jeans Park’ will be established by the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board (KIADB) at Sajanjeerayanakote, near Ballari.

Around 154 acres of land have been acquired for the project, to fulfil the assurance made by Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi during the Bharat Jodo Yatra, said the Minister in Bengaluru on January 9.

Highlighting the potential of the project, Mr. Patil said, “Globally renowned companies are expected to establish their presence in the proposed park.”

Geopolitical context

“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.

Ballari is home to over 500 jeans manufacturing units, which generate tens of thousands of direct and indirect jobs. The Industries Department plans to develop the area into an organised export hub with assistance from the Textile Department. Mr. Patil added that a meeting will soon be held with the Textile Minister to discuss possible incentive options for jeans manufacturing units.

Rahul’s promise

During the Bharat Jodo Yatra, Mr. Gandhi interacted with workers and employers in Ballari’s jeans industry. He assured them of setting up a ‘Jeans Park’. Subsequently, on August 1, 2023, he wrote to the Industries Department regarding implementation of the project.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced the initiative in the State budget presented in February 2024. “The project aims to elevate the jeans industry in Ballari to global standards by organising it under a structured framework,” Mr. Patil said.