If all goes as per plan, the city is likely to house the first 'international fabric resource centre' having distinguished and comprehensive collection of fabrics from around the world.

The Surat International Fabric Resource Centre, proposed by president of Southern Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SGCCI), Kamlesh Yagnik, would be a one-stop-shop for the weavers and textile traders.

The centre will provide information on the composition and other technical details about the fabrics and their market potential to the weavers, processors and traders.

Though the city's MMF industry contributes to nation's 40 per cent of synthetic fabric demand, the export of fabric is less at Rs 1,100 crore per annum. The MMF industry is decentralized and the weavers and traders lack in the knowledge about the fabrics in fashion around the world.

"The work on setting up the international fabric museum has already begun. A team of experts from the industry has been formed to source the fabrics used by the people around the world. These fabrics would then be displayed in the museum in order to provide vital information to the weavers and traders on the fabrics in demand," said Kamlesh Yagnik, president, SGCCI.

"We will display the fabrics sourced from around the world along with their technical specifications, so that the weavers could make similar kind of fabrics. This would help in boosting the overall fabric export from the city," added Yagnik.

Assuming office last week, Yagnik has taken a slew of initiatives for the development of the textile, diamond and agro sectors and the climate change initiative for setting up Green Building Council in the city.

The SGhas decided to conduct a taskforce studies on the impact of Chinese companies capturing the diamond mining activities in African countries, synthetic diamond threat on the world's biggest diamond cutting and polishing centre in Surat, textile export enhancement from south Gujarat, etc.

"We have formed a taskforce team from the diamond industry to study the impact and submit its report within four months. The study report would be submitted to the central and the state governments for their further actions," said Yagnik.