Union Minister of Textiles, Giriraj Singh, expressed confidence that India will exceed its target of $10 billion in technical textile exports by 2030. He made this statement during the inauguration of the international conference-cum-exhibition, ‘Viksit Bharat – Technical Textiles for Sustainable Growth & Development,’ held today in New Delhi.
The Minister discussed the growing global and domestic demand for man-made fibers and technical textiles, highlighting their expanding use across various sectors. Singh also launched the Compendium of the National Technical Textiles Mission (NTTM) and presented certificates to 11 start-ups approved under the mission.
Singh outlined the government’s commitment to fostering the technical textiles industry through initiatives such as the National Technical Textiles Mission and the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for man-made fiber fabrics, apparel, and technical textiles. He pointed to ongoing efforts, including 156 research projects focused on developing carbon fibers and supporting start-ups in different areas of technical textiles.
Particular attention was given to Meditech, with the Minister stating that hygiene products hold strong potential for contributing to the $10 billion export target. Singh also highlighted the importance of High-Performance Fibers, which have applications in aerospace, automotive, and construction industries. He reaffirmed the government’s support in positioning India as a global leader in technical textiles.
Union Minister of State for Textiles, Pabitra Margherita, underscored the nation’s progress toward self-reliance in technical textiles. He acknowledged the initiatives by various state governments to promote investments in the sector, including foreign direct investment (FDI), and encouraged others to follow suit.
Secretary of the Ministry of Textiles, Rachna Shah, said that the global trade in technical textiles stands at $300 billion, while India’s domestic market is valued at $25 billion, with $2.6 billion in exports. She outlined the ongoing work under the National Technical Textiles Mission, which focuses on setting standards, enforcing quality control orders, and enhancing interdepartmental cooperation.
Dr. S. Somanath spoke on the importance of composites and high-performance fibers in aerospace, noting that India’s reliance on imports stems from a lack of domestic production facilities. He called for greater investment in the sector, including in complex machinery, to meet both local demand and tap into the global market.
Joint Secretary and NTTM Mission Coordinator, Rajeev Saxena, provided an update on the mission’s progress, including the release of quality control orders for 57 technical textile items and the inclusion of 37 new Harmonized System (HS) Codes under technical textiles.