SGCCI Unveils Textile Task Force to Strengthen Surat’s Industry

The TTF will comprise representatives from various sections of the textile industry, spanning from fibre to garment, as well as machinery and infrastructure developers.

The Southern Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SGCCI) has established a Textile Task Force (TTF) for the first time, aimed at addressing various issues within the textile industry and uniting different segments of the sector on a single platform. SGCCI announced this initiative following a decision made during a meeting.

The TTF will comprise representatives from various sections of the textile industry, spanning from fibre to garment, as well as machinery and infrastructure developers. Participants will include textile traders, spinners, processors, weavers, knitters, embroidery business owners, yarn traders, garment manufacturers, and exporters.

Vijay Mevawala, the president of SGCCI, explained that the textile industry faces numerous challenges, and at times, entrepreneurs from different sectors struggle to reach a consensus. He stated that the TTF aims to bring these stakeholders together on a common platform to facilitate unified representation to relevant departments and both the state and central governments.

He further noted that under the NITI Aayog’s Growth Hub initiative, the economy of south Gujarat is projected to reach $1.5 trillion by 2047, with the textile industry expected to play a significant role in this growth. The task force will concentrate on accelerating the industry’s development and addressing areas where government support is needed. The objective is to position Surat, recognised as India’s textile cluster, as a global textile hub.

S P Verma, a former additional textile commissioner in the Union ministry of textiles, has been appointed as an advisor to the TTF, while former SGCCI president Ashish Gujarati has been named chairman. The task force is set to meet monthly and will organise a ‘Textile Conclave’ twice a year, with the inaugural conclave scheduled for December.

The TTF will focus on the development of the garment industry and the overall skill development within the textile sector. Additionally, it plans to establish a common facility centre in the city.