New Delhi: Union Minister of Textiles, Giriraj Singh, expressed strong confidence that India’s technical textiles industry will surpass the ambitious target of $10 billion by 2030. Speaking at the inauguration of the international conference-cum-exhibition, ‘Viksit Bharat – Technical Textiles for Sustainable Growth & Development’ in New Delhi today, the Minister highlighted the sector’s pivotal role in driving India’s economic and industrial growth.
The event, organized by the Ministry of Textiles in collaboration with the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI) and the Indian Technical Textile Association (ITTA), aimed to showcase advancements in technical textiles and discuss opportunities for sustainable growth.
During his address, Singh emphasized the growing importance of man-made fibres and technical textiles in both global and domestic markets. He highlighted their extensive applications across industries, including aerospace, healthcare, construction, and automobiles. The Minister also launched the Compendium of the National Technical Textiles Mission (NTTM) and awarded certificates to 11 approved start-ups under the mission.
“The Government of India is fully committed to the development of the technical textiles industry,” stated Singh. He mentioned key initiatives such as the National Technical Textiles Mission, the PLI Scheme for MMF Fabric, Apparel, and Technical Textiles, and the sanctioning of 156 research projects, including the development of carbon fibres. The Minister also stressed the potential of Meditech, especially hygiene products, as a major contributor to the industry’s growth.
Singh called on the local industry, government, and stakeholders to collaborate in the development of High-Performance Fibres that have widespread applications, adding that these innovations will enable India to become a global leader in the sector.
Union Minister of State for Textiles, Pabitra Margherita, also addressed the gathering, underscoring India’s journey toward becoming Atmanirbhar (self-reliant) in technical textiles. He encouraged state governments to promote investments, including FDI, in the sector, recognizing the initiatives already taken by various states.
Rachna Shah, Secretary, Ministry of Textiles, outlined the market potential for technical textiles, noting that while global trade in this sector is valued at $300 billion, India’s domestic market size is $25 billion, with exports accounting for $2.6 billion. She highlighted the government’s efforts through the National Technical Textiles Mission to introduce standards, Quality Control Orders (QCOs), and foster interdepartmental collaboration.
Dr. S Somanath, Chairman of ISRO and Secretary, Department of Space, highlighted the importance of composites and high-performance fibres for aerospace applications. He pointed out the lack of domestic production facilities for these materials, resulting in high import reliance, and urged for large-scale investments in this sector to meet local and global demands.
Rajeev Saxena, Joint Secretary and Mission Coordinator for NTTM, provided an update on the mission’s progress, including the release of QCOs for 57 technical textile items and the inclusion of 37 new HSN codes under the ambit of technical textiles.
The inaugural session featured four panel discussions on employment, innovation, social impact, and the future of the technical textiles industry. Industry leaders, government representatives, research organizations, and start-up founders participated, exploring the role of technical textiles in shaping a Viksit Bharat (Developed India).