Surat. The Southern Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SGCCI) and the Indian Technical Textile Association (ITTA) organized the 'Technical Textiles Conclave 2026' at UKM Hall in Sarsana.
Based on the theme 'Innovation in Textiles for a Smarter Tomorrow', experts from across the country inspired Surat's textile entrepreneurs to adopt modern and future-oriented business models. The program included detailed discussions on the growing global importance of technical textiles, new technologies, government policies, and the future of the industry. Experts noted that the demand for technical textiles is continuously increasing in sectors such as defense, medical, construction, sports, and infrastructure, presenting a significant opportunity for Surat.
The Vice President and President (Elect) of the Chamber, Ashok Jirawala, mentioned that the use of technical textiles is rapidly increasing worldwide. He stated that due to the Indian government's National Mission, this sector will make Indian industry competitive on a global level. He urged entrepreneurs to move beyond traditional textiles and enter this innovative sector.
ITTA Vice Chairman Dr. Nandan Kumar emphasized that the country's MSME sector must now advance from polymers to high-performance fibers. Former Additional Textile Commissioner S.P. Verma highlighted that about 80 percent of man-made fibers (MMF) are used in technical textiles, which is a golden opportunity for Surat's entrepreneurs. He mentioned that if India succeeds in high-end performance yarn production, the country could lead globally in the field of technical textiles.
He advised entrepreneurs to think 'out of the box' and diversify towards technical textiles in the next 5 to 10 years. J.B. Dave, General Manager of DIC and Joint Commissioner of Industries, informed that the Gujarat government's textile policy gives special priority to technical textiles. He provided information about schemes such as capital subsidy, power subsidy, and interest subsidy for entrepreneurs.
He also stated that industries adopting renewable energy will receive additional benefits and that industries will need to upgrade their processes in light of global standards like the European Union's carbon tax in the future. During the conclave, four special technical sessions were held, where industry experts presented on various topics. The Diversification Strategy session discussed value-added technical textiles.
The Defense Application session held a panel discussion on the needs of technical textiles in the defense sector. The Geotextiles and Building Textiles session provided information on sustainable development and infrastructure use. The Sportec and Standardization session discussed sports textiles and quality standards.
At the end of the program, ITTA Director Dr. Dhaval Patel and Executive Director Anil Kumar Vasupillai expressed gratitude to the attending guests, experts, and entrepreneurs. A large number of textile entrepreneurs from Surat and South Gujarat were present at the conclave.
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