New Delhi, Aug 12 - The government Wednesday said it expected investments of Rs.5,000 crore and employment of nearly three lakh in the technical textiles sector by 2012.

'The segment has a potential to attract investments and create additional employment opportunities in the coming years,' Textiles Minister Dayanidhi Maran told reporters after launching a website -- www.technotex.gov.in -- that will meet the information needs of stakeholders.

Maran said the domestic market size of technical textiles is expected to grow at 11 percent per annum to reach Rs.66.414 crore by 2012.

Currently, it is valued at Rs.37,115 crore.

Technical textiles have also been brought under the ambit of the Technology Upgradation Fund Scheme, the minister said.

Technical textiles represent a multi-disciplinary field with numerous applications in diversified fields such as medicine, aerospace sports, defence, agriculture and construction.

Medical slings, surgery gowns and diapers fall under the technical textiles category.