The Indian government announced plans to establish 10-11 testing laboratories nationwide to ensure the production of high-quality cotton and textiles for both domestic consumption and export markets. Union Minister Piyush Goyal revealed that discussions with the Textile Ministry, the Consumer Affairs Department, and the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) are underway to facilitate the establishment of these state-of-the-art testing facilities.
By December 16, a series of laboratories will be approved, with an estimated investment of $6-7 million, according to Minister Goyal. The announcement was made during the 81st Plenary Meeting of the International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC), where Goyal emphasized the government’s objective of ensuring high-quality textiles from the farm to the consumer locally and globally.
Initial plans involve setting up seven laboratories in textile research associations and an additional 3-4 locations to cover cotton-growing regions across the country. These laboratories will receive full funding from the central government to support the private sector and farmers.
During the event, Minister Goyal launched the ‘Kasturi Cotton Bharat’ brand, promoting premium-quality cotton with 100% traceability and certification. This private sector initiative supported by the government highlights India’s commitment to producing world-class textile products.
Goyal expressed optimism for the textile industry’s potential, with the government aiming to reach $250 billion by 2030, while textile exports are targeted to increase to $100 billion by the same year. The Plenary Meeting, attended by nearly 400 delegates worldwide, marks the first ICAC gathering in India since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and only the fifth in the country’s history.
