By Dr Vidhu Sekhar P, Assistant Professor, National Institute of Fashion Technology, Ministry of Textiles, Daman campus
Ms Chandrima Chatterjee
Chandrima Chatterjee, Secretary General of the Confederation of Indian Textile Industry (CITI), emphasized the need for a transformative shift in India’s textile manufacturing sector to cater to the global market. Speaking at a seminar on “Sustainable Textile Futures: The Role of Technology and Innovation” organized by the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) Daman Campus, Chatterjee stressed that India must aim to capture 10% of the global textile and apparel exports by 2030. This ambitious target is expected to translate into an incremental export increase of USD 65 billion by 2030, driven primarily by readymade garments made from natural and synthetic fibers. To achieve this goal, an investment of USD 100 billion is required, which would create an additional 50 lakh jobs.
The seminar lauded the initiatives taken by the Modi government, including the establishment of PM Textile Parks and the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme, aimed at boosting textile exports. The recent announcement in the budget to form a Cotton Mission to increase cotton output was also hailed as a positive step. Chatterjee highlighted the need for the Indian textile industry to adapt to the shifting global landscape, characterized by changes in fiber, technology, consumption, manufacturing, and environmental considerations. To remain competitive, the industry must align with global standards, particularly in the European market, which is a crucial destination for Indian textiles. Campus Director Dr Sandeep Sachan requested the students to remain competitive in the industry. The seminar was moderated by Dr. Vidhu Sekhar, Campus Academic Coordinator.
