Future of India’s Textile Industry Lies in Technical Textiles

Ludhiana: Technical Textiles Key to India’s Textile Industry Growth

The future of India’s textile industry lies in the development of technical textiles, said Ajay Gupta, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Textiles, Government of India, while addressing a conference in Ludhiana. Gupta attended the event as the chief guest and emphasised the need for innovation-driven growth in the sector.

The conference was organised by the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI) with the support of the Ministry of Textiles under the National Technical Textiles Mission (NTTM). It focused on innovation, sustainability, and skill development in the technical textiles domain and drew participation from industry experts, government officials, and entrepreneurs.

Highlighting Ludhiana’s strong industrial base, Gupta noted that the city has the potential to emerge as a major hub in the technical textiles ecosystem. He stated that India’s export share in technical textiles currently stands at around 16 per cent and that focused policy interventions are underway to enhance this figure. He added that adopting advanced technologies would strengthen Ludhiana’s textile industry while opening new business avenues for local entrepreneurs.

Gupta also underlined the government’s emphasis on specialised areas such as agro-textiles, medical textiles, and geo-textiles, urging industry stakeholders to explore opportunities in these high-growth segments.

Ashok Malhotra, Mission Director of the National Technical Textiles Mission, spoke on research and development initiatives in the sector. He pointed out that India has already developed a substantial portion of the required technology and stressed the importance of sustained innovation. Malhotra further highlighted the industry’s shift towards sustainability, citing the adoption of zero-water and zero-discharge manufacturing practices, and stated that Ludhiana would play a crucial role in shaping India’s global textile identity.

Rahul Chhaba, Additional CEO of Invest Punjab, shared details of Punjab’s investor-friendly policies and infrastructure development efforts aimed at strengthening the textile sector in the state.

The sessions were coordinated and moderated by Rakesh Kumar Sangrai, Director, PHDCCI, who facilitated constructive interaction between policymakers and industry leaders.