The two-day National Textiles Ministers’ Conference commenced in Guwahati, Assam, on Tuesday, bringing together Textile Ministers and senior officials from States and Union Territories to deliberate on the future direction of India’s textile sector.
Organised by the Ministry of Textiles under the theme “India’s Textiles: Weaving Growth, Heritage & Innovation”, the conference aims to strengthen cooperative federalism and enhance coordination between the Centre and States to position India as a global hub for textiles, apparel and technical textiles. The inaugural session was attended by Union Minister for Textiles Giriraj Singh, Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh Dr Mohan Yadav, Minister of State for Textiles Pabitra Margherita, and other senior dignitaries.
Giriraj Singh stated that the Union Government was pursuing a steady and balanced approach to align production, exports and sustainability within the textile sector. He said the conference was intended to promote brainstorming, innovation and the exchange of ideas to develop a robust roadmap for strengthening the industry. The minister urged States and Union Territories to frame investor-friendly policies and underscored the importance of attracting higher levels of investment at the state level. He also expressed confidence that the deliberations over the two days would help define a clear way forward for the sector.
Referring to the Northeastern region, Singh said the Prime Minister had accorded the highest priority to its growth and development, with the Government focusing on strengthening basic infrastructure and accelerating overall development in the region.
Minister of State for Textiles Pabitra Margherita said it was a matter of pride that Guwahati was hosting the National Textiles Ministers’ Conference, providing a platform for the Centre and States to jointly develop a roadmap for the sector. He added that sustained dialogue and coordination among governments would help the Indian textile industry expand its footprint in global markets. Citing the Handloom Census 2019–20, Margherita highlighted that the Northeastern region accounts for the highest handloom production in the country, contributing around 52% of total output.
Secretary (Textiles) Neelam Shami Rao said the textile industry continued to play a vital role in India’s social and economic life, noting that nearly 500 districts across the country export one or more textile products globally. Additional Secretary (Textiles) Rohit Kansal said India was among the world’s largest textile-producing nations and that the sector was witnessing rapid growth, with the Union Government working closely with State Governments to further promote its expansion.
