In anticipation of the 10th Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit 2024, the Government of Gujarat orchestrated a dynamic seminar titled 'Future Ready 5F: Gujarat's Textile Vision for a Developed India' on October 23, 2023, at Platinum Hall, Sarsana. The event served as a platform for a thought-provoking panel discussion on 'Weaving Tradition and Technology' at 1:30 pm.
Distinguished participants in the panel discussion included Ramesh Vaghasia, President of the South Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry, former Chamber President Ashish Gujarati, Amit Saluja, Senior Director and Center Head of NASSCOM Gandhinagar, Anjani Prasad, Managing Director (India) of ARCROMA, and Vice President (South Asia) of Himson Group of Industries. Dr. Chait Rendu, Assistant Professor at the University of Central Florida, joined the discussion online. Suryadev Mukherjee, Senior Consultant of Egerji Textile Organization, expertly moderated the engaging conversation where panelists shared insights on the intersection of tradition and technology in weaving.
Addressing the gathering, Chamber President Ramesh Vaghasia emphasized the need for the textile industry to embrace advanced technology to remain globally competitive. He acknowledged the impact of technology on employment and highlighted the emergence of new job opportunities with each technological advancement.
Former Chamber President Ashish Gujarati stressed the installation of high-speed weaving machines in Surat's textile industry and called for a concentrated effort on skill development for workers. He advocated for training programs initiated by the government and machine suppliers to enhance the skills of the workforce.
Amit Saluja delved into the challenges faced by textile industrialists and proposed the adoption of digital technology to overcome these hurdles. He emphasized the importance of digital literacy for middle management and workers in textile units, noting the subsequent increase in productivity and efficiency.
Anjani Prasad echoed the sentiments, emphasizing the impact of technology on the fast fashion trend in the textile and garment industry. He highlighted the role of 3D printing as the future of the apparel sector and urged the textile industry to prioritize technological updates and innovations.
Pratik Bachkaniwala underscored the necessity of advanced technology for large-scale production in the industry, while Dr. Chait Rendu emphasized the need for creating an ecosystem supportive of start-ups. The panelists collectively acknowledged the pivotal role of start-ups as solution providers for the challenges faced by the textile industry, urging for increased support and encouragement.
