Ashwin Chandran has been appointed the new chairman of the Confederation of Indian Textile Industry (CITI), effective September 18, 2025. He takes the leadership position from Rakesh Mehra, whose term concluded after CITI's 67th Annual General Meeting (AGM).

A seasoned industry leader, Chandran is the Chairman and Managing Director of Precot, a prominent cotton mill with operations across several Indian states. He previously served as the chairman of the Southern India Mills Association (SIMA).

The new leadership team also includes Dinesh Nolkha as the new deputy chairman and Shreyaskar Chaudhary as the new vice chairman.

An eminent figure in the textile sector, Nolkha is the Chairman and Managing Director of Nitin Spinners., a leading manufacturer of cotton yarn and knitted fabrics. He is a certified Chartered Accountant and a former president of the Mewar Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Known for his focus on sustainability, Chaudhary is the Managing Director of Pratibha Syntex The company is a pioneer in ethical and sustainable practices, holding certifications as India's first Fair Trade Certified and ZDHC Certified Apparel Manufacturer.

Outlining the two essential priorities for the Indian textile and apparel sector, Chandran says, the most urgent task is to address the severe challenge posed by a new 50 per cent tariff imposed by the United States on Indian products starting on August 27, 2025.

The longer-term goal is to ‘futureproof’ the Indian textile and apparel industry, primarily composed of small and medium-sized businesses (MSMEs). The strategy focuses on improving the industry's ability to compete on the world stage; placing a greater emphasis on new technologies, ethical practices, and environmental stewardship, investing in skill development and knowledge sharing to help businesses grow both domestically and internationally and enabling companies to fully capitalize on existing and future free trade agreements (FTAs), he adds