Surat. A special seminar on 'Strengthening Trade and Industry: Government Schemes, Business Development, and New Opportunities' was organized on Saturday at Ushakant Marfatia Hall in Sarsana under the joint auspices of the Southern Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SGCCI) and the Gujarat chapter of the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT).
Lok Sabha MP and CAIT National General Secretary Praveen Khandelwal was the chief speaker at the event. He informed traders about the changing business environment, modern technologies, and various schemes of the central government. At the beginning of the program, SGCCI President Ashok Jirawala welcomed the attendees and stated that trade and industry play a significant role in India's economic development.
The central and state governments have implemented several new schemes, reforms, and policies to promote trade. In this competitive era, it is essential for traders to be aware of new business opportunities, modern working methods, and business expansion strategies. Chief speaker Praveen Khandelwal mentioned that global trade is rapidly moving towards machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI)-based systems, but nearly 90 percent of traders in India are still not fully familiar with these technologies.
He emphasized that it has become imperative for every trader to keep themselves technically updated over time. Knowledge of modern digital tools and new technologies is necessary to keep businesses competitive. He provided detailed information about the central government's Mudra scheme, Pradhan Mantri Vishwakarma Yojana, Lakhpati Didi Yojana, and Digi Sakhi Yojana.
He also urged entrepreneurs in the textile industry to take maximum advantage of the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme. He further informed that the government is working towards implementing a 'One Trade, One License' system in the future, which will simplify business processes even more. Praveen Khandelwal announced that an Indian Trade Festival will be held from August 12 to 15, 2026, at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi in collaboration with CAIT and ITPO.
The textile industry from Surat has booked stalls in an area of approximately 7,000 square meters for this event. Entrepreneurs and business representatives from over 40 countries will participate in the festival, providing new opportunities for Indian industries and traders to connect with the global market.
The event was attended by former chamber president Nikhil Madarasi, honorary treasurer Atul Patel, former chairman of the textile task force Ashish Gujarati, CAIT Gujarat president Pramod Bhagat, and a large number of industrialists and traders. The outline of the program was presented by Manoj Agarwal, conducted by Mitesh Shah, and at the end, honorary minister Paresh Lathia expressed gratitude.
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