The PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI), with support from the Ministry of Textiles, Government of India, under the National Technical Textiles Mission (NTTM), successfully hosted a one-day Conference on Technical Textiles in Ludhiana. Held at the CICU Complex, the event brought together industry stakeholders, policymakers, innovators, and entrepreneurs to discuss ‘Market Growth, Challenges, Opportunities & Way Forward’ for the sector.
Ajay Gupta, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Textiles, emphasized on the policy initiatives and national goals under NTTM. He highlighted the strategic importance of positioning Ludhiana as a crucial hub for technical textiles. Ashok Malhotra, Mission Director, NTTM, provided an overview of the mission's progress, noting that since its launch in FY21 with an outlay of Rs. 1,480 crore, 168 R&D projects have been sanctioned with a grant of Rs 519 crore, 31 patents applied, 20 startups approved with a grant of Rs 10.34 crore, and 500 people trained across 16 skill development courses.
Rahul Chaba, Additional CEO, Invest Punjab, showcased Punjab's strengths as a textile hub, citing its integrated value chain, skilled workforce, competitive power tariffs, and world-class infrastructure. He highlighted the state's progressive industrial policies and the ‘Fast Track Punjab’ single-window portal designed for investor-friendly clearances, reaffirming Ludhiana's role in India's textile growth story.
Presentations from industry experts delved into various aspects of technical textiles. Sunil Kumar Puri discussed the transformative potential of flat-bed knitting machines for 2D and 3D structures in medical, automotive, and protective gear, emphasizing their role in sustainable, waste-minimizing production. Debabrata Ghosh, Oerlikon Textile India. highlighted their innovations in materials and manufacturing for high-demand industries like aerospace and automotive, focusing on high-performance and nonwoven textiles.
Akhil Seth pointed to India's strong potential in Packtech, Meditech, and Geotech, advocating for regional Centers of Excellence in Ludhiana and increased industry-academia collaboration. Rajiv Sajdeh emphasized the underutilized potential of natural fibers like wool in technical textiles, citing its flame resistance and sustainability. He called for policy revisions, better certification access, and a ‘TechTex Green Compliant’ certification for recyclers to boost circularity.
The conference also featured discussions on BIS standards, SIDBI support for MSMEs, circular economy models, and green certifications, with notable participation from the Ministry of MSME and Textile Commissioner’s Office. Discussions also focused on developing a future-ready talent pipeline for the sector.
Moderated by Rakesh Kumar Sangrai, Director, PHDCCI, the event was attended by over 150 delegates including large textile companies, MSMEs, consultants, R&D institutions, and academia. The conference concluded with a strong consensus to fortify Ludhiana’s position in India’s technical textile ecosystem through innovation, sustainability, and skill development, aligning with the NTTM vision for a resilient and globally competitive industry.
