Arvind Kumar Sharma (1988 IAS, Gujarat) who is presently Secretary, Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME), has been given additional charge of Secretary, Ministry of Textiles. The ministry of textiles has updated his name as Secretary on its website. Sharma assumed charge of secretary MSME ministry on April 30 last year.
The additional chagre has been given to Sharma, as the term of textiles secretary Ravi Capoor, who was on Central deputation from July 23, 2019 till December 31, 2020, ended.
Prior to his appointment as MSME secretary, Sharma served as Additional Secretary in Prime Minister’s Office.
A 1988 batch IAS officer of Gujarat cadre, Sharma has worked in the Government of Gujarat for long at various positions including field and policy level and as Secretary to the Chief Minister of Gujarat. He has extensive experience in grass root regulatory and developmental administration. He was recognised with the best District Development Officer when he worked in Vadodara district. He was known for his contribution in industrialisation of Gujarat as managing director of Industrial Extension Bureau and as a pioneer of the Vibrant Gujarat experiment.
Sharma’s experience in infrastructure is equally noteworthy since he held the position of CEO of Gujarat Infrastructure Development Board (GIDB) for a long time. During these years, GIDB was acclaimed as the most admired infrastructure agency of the country. His contribution in setting up the Gujarat section of dedicated freight corridor and Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor as well as Dholera special investment region is also highly talked about. He created on-line administrative processes which are internationally acclaimed.
Sharma’s experience of more than a decade in industry and infrastructure sectors, along with his ongoing position in the MSME ministry, would particularly bring lot of value to the textiles ministry and help in rejuvenating India’s textile and garment sector.
