Sonapur, Jan 8: A two-day national-level conference of the Union Ministry of Textiles began on Thursday at Sonapur near Guwahati, with a strong focus on strengthening the textile sector, boosting exports, and unlocking the potential of handloom and handicrafts in the Northeast.
The conference, being held on January 8 and 9, is attended by Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita, Union Minister for Textiles Giriraj Singh, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, Assam ministers, senior officials, and other dignitaries.
Addressing the media on the sidelines of the event, Union Textile Minister Giriraj Singh said the two-day Chintan Manthan aims to set an ambitious target of taking India’s textile sector to $350 billion.
“When we came to power in 2014, the textile sector stood at $220 billion. Through this Chintan Baithak, we have now set a target of $350 billion,” Singh said.
He emphasized that the Northeast has been identified as a key focus area, particularly for its handloom and handicraft strengths.
“The North-East is the most powerful region in the country in terms of handloom and handicraft. We have started a pilot project in Guwahati, which will be implemented across the entire Northeast,” he added.
The Union Minister said discussions during the two-day deliberations would focus on exports, new-age fibres, and employment generation. He highlighted Assam’s potential in ramie fibre, stating that the state could emerge as a global leader.
“China and Vietnam currently dominate ramie fibre production. Assam will replace them. Till now, we are importing around 45,000 metric tonnes from outside, and our aim is to stop this,” Singh said.
He further stated that the government aims to increase employment in the textile sector from six crore to seven crore people, ultimately targeting over 30 crore livelihoods linked directly or indirectly to the sector, in coordination with state governments.
Giriraj Singh also praised Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma for his support to the textile initiatives and broader development efforts in the state.
“Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has encouraged the entire country through his work. Along with accelerating development, he has taken strong steps on land issues and illegal immigration,” Singh remarked.
The conference is expected to play a crucial role in shaping future textile policies, especially for integrating the Northeast into India’s global textile value chain.
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