The yarn-export deficit will come down by 11 per cent in dollar terms in the next year, said Katua, while addressing a press conference to announce the opening of the annual textile fair, Tex-Styles India '99, in New Delhi on February 1.

Tex-Styles India, being organised for the fifth successive time by the International Trade Promotion Organisation (Itpo), promises to provide visitors a look at the new millennium through domestic textiles, Katua said. The fair will be held at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi, from February 1 to 4

Katua added that overseas buyers including global textile giants Mitsui Co, Sumitom Corporatrion, Tomo Corp and Calvin Klein were participating in the fair.

The fair attracted around 10,000 visitors in 1998, which included 2,300 overseas visitors from 84 countries and 640 buying agents, resulting in a business of$106 million, he said.

Last year, the number of overseas buyers increased by 61 per cent, and the business generated was also 51 per cent more than the previous year.

Over 300 mills from the handloom, powerloom and composite mills sectors as also convertors from the textile industry will participate and exhibit customised products from India, he said.

The display profile will cover a vast range of fabrics and home furnishings in cotton, silk, wool, linen, jute and synthetics, Katua said. The fair will introduce a special feature by the International Wool Secretariat through an an audio-visual presentation on consumer lifestyle, he added.