PR No – 60
3rd February, 2025
New Delhi
PHDCCI Organizes 2nd Conference on Technical Textiles
The PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI) successfully hosted its 2nd Conference on Technical Textiles at PHD House, New Delhi. The conference brought together industry leaders, policymakers, and experts to discuss the latest trends, challenges, and opportunities in this rapidly evolving sector.
Mr. Madhu Sudhan Bhageria, Chair – PHDCCI Textile Committee & CMD, Filatex India Ltd., in his welcome address, emphasized the immense potential of the Indian technical textiles sector. He stated, “We have the potential to transform India into a global hub for technical textiles, creating value-added products and generating employment opportunities.” He further highlighted that India’s vision for its textile sector aligns seamlessly with the goals of the National Technical Textile Mission, which aims to enhance our global competitiveness.
Mr. Rajeev Saxena, Joint Secretary & Mission Coordinator, National Technical Textile Mission (NTTM), Ministry of Textiles, Government of India, delivered the keynote address as the Chief Guest of the Conference. He provided an overview of the policy initiatives and support being provided under the NTTM, including the release of Quality Control Orders for technical textiles items. Mr. Saxena highlighted that technical textiles is one of the fastest-growing segments with strong global demand and emphasized the NTTM’s role in positioning India as a global leader in this sector. He elucidated various guidelines under the NTTM mission related to Research & Innovation, Start-ups, machinery development, internship, education, and skilling.
Mr. Ashok Malhotra, Mission Director, NTTM, delivered the special address during the Session-1 on Technical Textile – Innovations, Possibilities and way forward. He informed that India’s exports of specialized technical textile products have shown significant growth. Between April and November this year, exports reached US$ 342 million, compared to US$ 275 million during the same period last year.
Speaking on the current landscape, Mr. Malhotra highlighted that India remains a major importer of technical textiles, driven by rising domestic consumption. He stressed the need to boost domestic manufacturing to meet this growing demand and to minimize dependency on imports. He also noted the country’s growing strength in exporting products like sanitary napkins and nappies, showcasing India’s potential in niche markets.
The packaging technology and geotextiles segments have emerged as two of the fastest-growing areas within technical textiles. Mr. Malhotra also encouraged the use of diverse raw materials for technical textiles, including jute, ramie, wool, silk, and banana fiber. He assured that NTTM is ready to support any initiatives that explore innovative uses of these materials. He highlighted the application of silk in medical textiles and the increasing use of jute in geotextiles. Other specialized technical textiles, such as fire-resistant fabrics for railways, high-altitude military gear, materials for civil aviation and upholstery for movie theatres, were identified as having significant market potential. These developments reflect India’s efforts to establish itself as a global player in technical textiles, leveraging innovation and targeted investments to expand its export footprint and reduce import reliance.
Mr. Shantanu Agarwal, Co-Chair, PHDCCI Textiles Committee & Director, Maral Overseas, delivered the Theme Address. He stated that “the global textile market is witnessing exponential growth, with a growing emphasis on sustainability. To stay ahead, we must learn from the best practices adopted by global leaders in this sector. Germany is renowned for its engineering excellence, with a strong emphasis on research, development, and innovation in high-performance textiles and energy-efficient solutions. The country has successfully increased exports of high-value-added products. Japan has established itself as a leader with its strong focus on technology-driven advancements in the textile industry. Taiwan has effectively integrated technology and innovation, focusing on niche markets and high-value products to maintain its competitive edge. By learning from these global leaders, we can drive innovation, enhance sustainability, and strengthen our position in the global textile industry.”
Dr. Arindam Basu, Director General, Northern India Textile Research Association (NITRA), shared key highlights of the government’s support for the textile sector, including a significant budget allocation for the textile sector in the 2025-26 budget. He stated that Budget grant for Textiles is Rs. 5252 Crore for 2025-26 as compared to Rs. 3342 crore in 2024-25 (increase by 57%), Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme allotment Rs. 1148 crore for 2025-26 as compared to Rs. 45 crore (Revised Budget) in 2024-25, Cotton Technology Mission announced Rs. 500 crore for 5 years, Around 170 R&D projects approved under NTTM.
The conference witnessed participation from eminent speakers, including Mr. Ajay Sardana, President & Head, Petchem – Industry Affairs, Reliance Industries Limited; Mr. Vikram Jain, Managing Director, SBT Textiles; Dr. Anasuya Roy, CEO and Founder, Nanosafe Solutions Pvt. Ltd.; Mr. Yatee Gupta, CEO, Fabiosys Innovations Pvt. Ltd.; Mr. Arpan B. Kharva, Ph.D. Research scholar, Textile Engineering; Mr. Rajiv Sajdeh, Founder and CEO, Indo German Yarn and Fibre LLP; Ms. Chinky Tyagi Khare, Senior Sales Lead, Green Story; and Ms. Ruma Kinger, Managing Director, Waste2Wear India LLP.
The Conference was supported by Oerlikon Textiles India Pvt. Ltd. and Imagine Fibres as Associate Partners, NITRA and Indo German Yarns and Fibres as the Supporting Partner, C&R Textiles as a Delegate Kit Partner, and The Textile Value Chain as the Media Partner. Approximately 100 delegates participated in the conference.
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