Centre, states unite to chart textile future at Guwahati conference

Guwahati: The National Textiles Ministers’ Conference opened in Guwahati on Thursday bringing together textile ministers and senior officials from across India to draft a unified roadmap for the country’s textile sector.Organized by the textiles ministry under the theme “India’s Textiles: Weaving Growth, Heritage & Innovation”, the two-day event aims to position India as a global hub for textiles, apparel, and technical textiles while strengthening cooperative federalism.Union minister for textiles Giriraj Singh set the tone in the inaugural session, stressing the need to harmonise production, exports, and sustainability. He urged states to adopt investor-friendly policies and attract greater investment, while reaffirming the Prime Minister’s priority for the northeast. “We are working tirelessly to strengthen infrastructure and accelerate development in the region,” he said.Madhya Pradesh chief minister Mohan Yadav praised the artistic skills of India’s craftsmen and called for greater global access.Union minister of state for textiles Pabitra Margherita described the conference as a proud moment for Assam. He announced India’s ambitious target of building a USD 350 billion textile economy, noting that the northeast contributes 52 per cent of the country’s handloom output.Adding substance to the vision, the ministry marked a transformative step toward evidence-based policymaking by signing MoUs with 15 states under the Tex-RAMPS (Textiles Focused Research, Assessment, Monitoring, Planning and Start-Up) scheme.Designed to strengthen textile data systems, the initiative will provide each state and Union Territory with an annual grant of Rs 12 lakh, along with Rs 1 lakh per district to support cluster-level planning. Officials said the scheme embodies cooperative federalism and ensures that India’s roadmap toward a USD 350 billion industry is backed by robust, real-time insights.Textiles secretary Neelam Shami Rao highlighted that nearly 500 districts export textile products globally, while additional secretary Rohit Kansal reinforced India’s position as one of the world’s largest textile producers. The inaugural day also saw the release of India’s Textile Atlas: State Compendium 2025 and the opening of a pavilion showcasing India’s textile heritage and innovation.Throughout the day, sessions focused on infrastructure, investments, raw materials, technical textiles, and new age fibres, with ministers and officials sharing best practices and policy suggestions. On Friday, discussions will turn to exports, branding, handlooms, and handicrafts, as the conference continues to weave together heritage, innovation, and growth into a roadmap for India’s textile future.