A significant board meeting of the Federation of Surat Trade and Textile Association (FOSTA) is scheduled to be held on April 22, 2026, in Surat. Several important decisions regarding the upcoming FOSTA elections are expected to be made during this meeting.

The year 2026 is an election year for FOSTA, as per the organization's constitution, which mandates elections every three years. The current executive committee's term will end in July 2026, prompting preparations for the election process to be expedited. FOSTA has already sent letters to all textile markets requesting the names of one representative voter from each market.

The selected voters will represent their respective markets during the elections. FOSTA's president, Kailash Hakim, mentioned that the committee formed in 2023 had decided to hold elections regularly every three years.

Accordingly, the announcement for the upcoming elections will be made soon. He further stated that the board meeting will discuss in detail the election date, nomination deadlines, appointment of election officials, and other procedures to make final decisions.

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Surat, July 8 – In a significant move to strengthen cooperation and address key challenges in the textile sector, the Federation of Surat Trade and Textile Association (FOSTTA) and the Sachin Industrial Co-operative Society Limited held a high-level meeting on Tuesday afternoon at the Notified Building in Sachin GIDC.

The meeting, held at 2 PM, focused on pressing issues faced by the textile industry and emphasized the importance of mutual collaboration for sustainable industrial growth. Key representatives from both organizations participated in in-depth discussions aimed at shaping a unified approach to sectoral development.

FOSTTA President Kailash Hakim informed that a mutual agreement was reached to jointly work on future initiatives that support the development and expansion of the textile industry. The meeting saw a shared commitment from all participants to address challenges through collective effort, highlighting a spirit of unity and a forward-looking vision for the industry’s future.

Attendees expressed a positive outlook for the textile sector and resolved to work together to find practical solutions to ongoing industrial concerns. The session was seen as a key step in enhancing coordination, fostering partnerships, and promoting growth in one of Surat’s core economic sectors.

Notable attendees included FOSTTA President Kailash Hakim and office-bearers, Sachin GIDC Notified Chairman Mitul Mehta, Sachin GIDC Chairman Nileshbhai Gami, Secretary Mayur Golwala, Director Umesh Dobariya, Sachin Textile Process Association President Vinod Agarwal, Sachin Infra Pvt. Ltd. Chairman Binay Agarwal, and Vishal Budhia from Steam House, among others.

The meeting marked a new chapter in collective industry leadership and is expected to yield joint initiatives aimed at resolving infrastructural and operational issues, ultimately boosting the region's textile economy.

Surat, June 9 – A comprehensive fire mock drill was conducted on Monday at the Millennium Textile Market in Surat, a city known as the textile hub of India. Organized by the Federation of Surat Textile Traders Association (FOSTA), the event aimed to enhance awareness and readiness among traders, staff, and security personnel to respond effectively to fire-related emergencies. The drill commenced at 12 noon and was held at the FOSTA office.

As per agency report, the training session was led by a team of experts from Gandhinagar and was divided into two segments – a theoretical session and a practical session. Both segments focused on critical aspects of emergency response and fire safety.

A key highlight of the program was the CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) training. Participants were taught how to save lives if a person stops breathing or suffers cardiac arrest. The instructors broke down the CPR process into four clear steps: Check, Call, Compress, and Breathe. Using life-size mannequins, they demonstrated each step live and gave participants hands-on practice in administering CPR.

The session also included first aid training, focusing on how to respond to cases of suffocation caused by smoke or gas inhalation. Instructions were provided on relocating the victim to an open area, loosening tight clothing, placing the person in a recovery position, and initiating CPR if needed.

Another major component of the drill was the demonstration of rope rescue techniques, particularly relevant for evacuation from high-rise buildings. Trainers explained the importance of knots and ropes in rescue scenarios and provided guidance on using knots such as the Square Knot, Bowline Knot, and Figure Eight Knot. Participants were shown how to lower injured individuals safely, move heavy objects, and exit hazardous areas, and were also given the opportunity to practice tying knots themselves.

The event saw active participation from textile merchants, market managers, and security personnel. The mock drill not only imparted essential fire safety knowledge but also equipped attendees with life-saving emergency response techniques. Participants widely praised the session as informative and highly beneficial for improving safety preparedness in the bustling textile market.

Surat, May 4 – FOSTA President Kailas Hakim has announced a special workshop for traders, aimed at enhancing business awareness and preparing them for global competition. The workshop is scheduled for May 6 at 5 PM at the FOSTA office located in Millennium Market on Ring Road.

Hakim stated that Surat's business landscape has evolved from traditional street-side trade to organized markets and corporate-scale industries. In light of this transformation, he emphasized the need for a systematic, planned, and professional approach to take the city's multi-crore textile industry to greater heights. To meet this goal, FOSTA has partnered with StrategyFix to organize this expert-led session.

The workshop will feature Chirag Patel, co-founder of StrategyFix, as the keynote speaker. Patel, a seasoned business consultant with over 15 years of sales experience, will provide practical guidance on strategic thinking, sales growth, and preparing businesses to compete internationally.

Hakim further noted that today’s business environment is no longer confined to local boundaries. Competing with markets in countries like China and Vietnam requires global-level strategies and disciplined business models. He added that the workshop marks a crucial step toward transforming traditional businesses into well-structured corporate enterprises.

Interested participants can register for the workshop via a Google Form or by directly contacting the FOSTA office for more information.

Surat: In a continued effort to enhance financial literacy among textile traders, FOSTA, in collaboration with financial management advisor CA Rishabh Bothra, organized the second session of its financial awareness initiative on Thursday, May 1, 2025, at 4:30 PM at the FOSTA office. This follows the successful completion of the first session of the program.

According to FOSTA President Kailas Hakim, the topic of the session was “Learn to Prepare Textile Business Budgets and Dashboards.” Interested traders participated either in person at the FOSTA office or joined the event live via Facebook and YouTube.

The session aimed to guide textile business owners through the essentials of effective budget preparation tailored to their business needs. Participants learned how to create and manage business dashboards to maintain continuous oversight of their operations. The session also covered strategies for maximizing profits even with limited resources and adapting to evolving market conditions through modern business practices.

During the session, CA Rishabh Bothra provided in-depth insights into financial tools and planning techniques relevant to the textile sector. Traders were introduced to practical methods for financial tracking and decision-making that could significantly improve the operational efficiency and long-term stability of their businesses.

President Hakim encouraged all textile traders to attend such sessions and motivate their peers to do the same, emphasizing that collective growth and knowledge-sharing are vital for strengthening the local industry. He reiterated that this financial management initiative presents a valuable opportunity for Surat’s textile community to enhance their financial competence and business performance.

Surat, April 25 – In a powerful expression of solidarity and grief, Surat’s textile traders organized a candle march and memorial gathering on Friday evening, April 25, 2025, to protest against the recent brutal killings of innocent civilians in Pahalgam. The peaceful protest was held at the call of the Federation of Surat Textile Traders Associations (FOSTTA) and various textile market organizations across the city.

FOSTTA President Kailas Hakim stated that the heart-wrenching incident in Pahalgam has left the entire nation shocked and saddened. Surat’s entire textile trading community came together, wearing black armbands and participating in a candle march to voice their deep outrage against the inhuman act.

The candle march began at Millennium-1 Market on Ring Road and passed through Kamela Darwaja, Universal Market, Adarsh Market-1, Salasar Gate, J.J. Market, and Surat Textile Market before culminating back at Millennium-1 Market. At the conclusion of the march, all participants observed two minutes of silence, paying heartfelt tribute to the departed souls.

Responding to FOSTA’s call, traders from several other textile markets in Surat also gathered within their respective market premises, donning black armbands to express their protest. Through this collective demonstration, Surat’s trading community sent a strong message to the nation and the world, making it clear that such barbaric acts would not be tolerated under any circumstances.

FOSTTA extended heartfelt thanks to all the participating traders and various textile market organizations for showing solidarity with the cause of humanity through their active involvement in the peace march.

Surat, March 10 – The Federation of Surat Trade and Textile Association (FOSTTA) has taken a significant step towards ensuring the swift and fair resolution of trade disputes by effectively implementing the Arbitration Act. In a meeting held at the FOSTTA office, an arbitration panel was officially constituted, with 16 arbitrators appointed to handle commercial disputes.

FOSTTA President Kailash Hakim emphasized the importance of the Arbitration Act, stating that it would help resolve business disputes efficiently, saving both time and money for traders. He highlighted that the arbitration panel would function impartially, fostering trust among business owners. This initiative is expected to play a crucial role in making Surat’s textile trade smoother and free from conflicts.

The implementation of this act is seen as a major step toward strengthening business reliability while safeguarding the interests of traders. FOSTTA has urged all traders to take advantage of the arbitration panel for resolving their disputes in a structured manner.

One of the key benefits of the Arbitration Act is that disputes will be settled outside the traditional court system, leading to reduced legal costs and quicker resolutions. Additionally, arbitration will help maintain commercial relationships and ensure confidentiality in dispute settlements.

With this move, FOSTTA has set a new benchmark in Surat’s textile industry, aiming to enhance business growth and promote trust among traders by providing a structured and effective dispute resolution mechanism.

Surat: A crucial meeting took place today between the Federation of Surat Textile Traders Association (FOSTTA) and railway officials to discuss ways to increase the use of railway transport for traders in Surat. The meeting was attended by key railway officials, including Dr. Manoj Barhat (IRTS), Area Railway Manager of Valsad Subdivision, Saurabh Kumar (IRTS), Divisional Commercial Manager, Mumbai, and Mukesh Singh, Area Officer, Surat.

FOSTTA President Kailash Hakim highlighted the importance of efficient transport solutions for the textile industry in Surat, which trades extensively in fabrics, zari, and yarn across various parts of the country. He emphasized that while most goods are currently transported by road, using railways could save both time and money for traders as well as for the railways.

However, traders have raised several concerns with FOSTTA regarding railway transport. Compared to last year, there has been a significant drop in the volume of parcels sent via rail from Surat to other states. Last year, 68 goods trains and 124 passenger trains (with dedicated parcel coaches) facilitated the movement of goods worth approximately ₹700 crore from Surat. This year, only 26 goods trains and 49 passenger trains have been used, reducing the trade value to ₹300 crore.

During the meeting, traders pointed out specific challenges with railway transport:
1. Lack of GPS tracking: Traders are unable to track their parcels, leading to uncertainty about when and where their goods will arrive.
2. Coordination issues between Western and Eastern Railways: Inconsistent handling of goods when transitioning between railway zones has caused delays and inefficiencies.
3. Challenges at Varanasi Station: Goods arriving from Surat are often held at Platform No. 9, and local traders face significant labor costs and logistical challenges to transport parcels to Platform No. 1.
4. Space constraints at Surat station: The traders suggested creating a designated area for goods storage at Udhna station, along with opening a dedicated parcel booking office there.
5. Technological upgrades: FOSTA proposed using technology to improve transport solutions, such as implementing “Ro-Ro” ferry services, allowing trucks to be transported directly on goods trains, streamlining the process.

Railway officials acknowledged these concerns and provided updates on the current situation. They mentioned that goods trains are already operational from Surat to locations such as Varanasi, Muzaffarpur, Bhagalpur, Danapur, and Bengal, with plans to introduce services to more destinations soon.

The meeting was attended by FOSTA directors, members of Surat Goods Transport, and prominent traders from the local market, all working towards improving the logistics framework for Surat’s thriving textile industry.