This is 36 percent shorter than the expectation of exports of 7.5 billion dollars, he said.

He, however, said confidently that the export target of 2 billion dollars set for the current fiscal would be met as bulk of the order came in the last two quarters of the fiscal.

Vaghela, who was speaking at the launch of Textile Summit 2007 here on Tuesday, said the government's package of incentives for exporters announced earlier this month would help textile exporters to overcome the problems posed by the strengthening Rupee which has appreciated by over 11 percent since August 2006.

He said the Textile Ministry would push for increasing duty drawback rates and making the foreign currency account interest-bearing as a relief to exporters.

The minister said the government is also taking measures to ensure that latest technology comes to the Indian textile sector.

Meanwhile, a study by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) says the Indian textile sector has been witnessing a slowdown in growth rate in the last two-three months.

As compared to a growth rate of 14 percent in May 2006, the sector grew by a mere 6.9 percent in May this year, it points out.

Similarly, textile products (including apparels) grew by just 7.13 percent and 9.9 percent in April and May this year, compared to

12. 5 percent and 18 percent in April and May last year, the study estimated.

The study suggests a four-point package, including adequate availability of fibre at competitive prices, attracting Foreign Direct Investment and tapping emerging areas like technical textiles to boost the textile sector further.