Immense potential for textile industry in Uttar Pradesh: Deputy

Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak

On conclusion of UPTEX-2026, Deputy Chief Minister calls upon industry

and investors to increase investment in state

Industrial clusters for handlooms, technical textiles,

protective and defence textiles and sports goods, modern testing labs and

emphasis on skill development

Uttar Pradesh becoming major destination for technical and

defence textiles: Rakesh Sachan

Lucknow, 10 Sept (HS): The Yogi government is continuously taking

concrete steps to develop Uttar Pradesh as the country's leading textile and

apparel manufacturing center. In this sequence, the two-day UPTEX-2026

organized in the same sequence concluded with great pomp in the Jupiter Hall of

Indira Gandhi Pratishthan, Gomti Nagar, Lucknow. Deputy Chief Minister of the

state Brajesh Pathak was present as the chief guest in the closing ceremony,

while Handloom and Textile Industry Minister Rakesh Sachan was present with

great respect. On this occasion, Letters of Comfort, cheques for financial

incentives and MoUs were exchanged with various industrial units.

On the second day of the program, various high-level sessions

were held on sports textiles, sports goods, protective and defense textiles,

handicraft exports, and Textile Policy 2027. Industry experts, investment

promotion organizations, senior officials from the Government of India and the

Government of Uttar Pradesh, and entrepreneurs participated in these sessions

and shared ideas on strategies to make the state a leader in the textile and

technical textiles sectors.

At the closing ceremony, Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak

said that Uttar Pradesh is a state with immense potential, and under the

leadership of the Yogi government, every sector is progressing rapidly. The

textile industry is also poised to become an important pillar of the state's

development. Textiles are a basic necessity for human life, and over time, this

sector has undergone extensive technological changes. Today, textiles are also

being produced from natural resources like bamboo. He described the discussions

and various sessions held at UPTEX-2026 as a milestone for Uttar Pradesh's

textile industry.

The Deputy Chief Minister said that Uttar Pradesh has a rich

tradition of handloom, but previously, weavers lacked adequate markets,

resources, subsidies, and government protection. The Yogi government has

revitalized the handloom and textile sectors through new policies, incentives,

subsidies, concessions, and a single-window system. As a result, major industrial

companies are coming forward to invest in Uttar Pradesh. He said that any

industry brings with it employment opportunities. Students in the textile

sector are gaining education and skills at NIFT and various training institutes

in the state. These young people can establish their own industries in the

future and advance their lives by finding employment in the large industries

being established in the state. The Yogi government is continuously providing

opportunities to advance the state's youth.

Deputy Chief Minister Pathak said that Uttar Pradesh's

population of approximately 250 million provides a large market. A large

quantity of textiles comes into the state from outside, increasing

transportation costs. Promoting textile production within the state could not

only meet the needs of the local market but also increase the reach of Uttar

Pradesh-made textiles in national and international markets. He urged

industrialists from India and abroad to invest in Uttar Pradesh and take

advantage of the state's industrial policies.

The Deputy Chief Minister said that Uttar Pradesh is playing a

key role in fulfilling Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of a developed

India. Under the leadership of the Yogi government, the state is rapidly

advancing in the areas of infrastructure, industry, and investment. In the

textile sector, too, new possibilities are being realized through continuous

dialogue between the government and industry.

Citing the Uttar Pradesh government's industrial policies and

the investment-friendly environment being developed under the Chief Minister's

leadership, Handloom and Textiles Minister Rakesh Sachan said the state is

emerging as a leading destination for the technical textiles and defense

textiles industries in the country. He detailed schemes such as capital grants,

employment generation incentives, training assistance, and research and

development support.

Discussion on the potential of Uttar Pradesh in the field of sports

textiles and sports goods: On the second day of UPTEX-2026, a key session was

held on the topic Game Plan UP: Building India's Sports Textile and

Sports Goods Powerhouse. Prashant Ramesh, Production Process Leader,

Decathlon, moderated the session. He stated that post-COVID, sports activities

have become an integral part of lifestyle, and India, especially Uttar Pradesh,

has the potential to become a major hub for global sports textile and sports

goods manufacturing.

Describing Meerut's sports goods industry, Kanpur's footwear

industry and Noida's apparel production system as the major strengths of the

state, he stressed on the need for synthetic fibres, testing laboratories,

plug-and-play clusters, R&D centres and skill development.

Rajesh Kumar, Managing Director of Trackways, stated that

state-of-the-art testing laboratories, Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD)-based

clusters, and advanced processing infrastructure are needed to strengthen the

sports and technical textile industry. He added that despite the availability

of quality yarn, the lack of modern processing facilities holds the Indian

industry back from global competition, especially against China.

Manoj Chaudhary, Founder and Managing Director of Heka Fashions,

said that the global market for seamless garments and technical sportswear is

growing rapidly and plays a vital role in improving athlete performance. He

explained that seamless technology is still in its infancy in India, and the

lack of high-quality polyamide and polyester-based processing infrastructure is

hindering its progress. He stressed the need to establish integrated

plug-and-play facilities and modern processing units.

Dharmendra Narula, Director of Guru Kripa Enterprises, praised

the changing industrial climate in Uttar Pradesh, stating that confidence and

innovation are fundamental to success in any field. Citing China's sports

industrial model, he stressed the need to develop dedicated clusters for the

sports industry in Uttar Pradesh, providing a complete supply chain from raw

materials to finished products. He also praised the state government's

industry-friendly environment, security, and incentive schemes.

Discussion on the potential of Uttar Pradesh as a national hub

for protective and defence textiles: Dr. M.S. Parmar, Director General of

NITRA, moderated the session on Shield UP: Building a National Center for

Protective and Defense Textiles. He outlined 12 key areas of technical

textiles, explaining that protective textiles are used in numerous areas

related to defense, firefighting, chemical safety, nuclear safety, and law and

order. He highlighted the Center of Excellence and advanced testing facilities

available at NITRA and urged the industry to take advantage of them.

Prerna Sharma, ACEO of Invest UP and an IAS officer, said that

technical and defense textiles are not limited to the textile industry alone,

but are a vital tool for technological, defense, and strategic self-reliance.

Citing the Uttar Pradesh Defense Corridor, research and testing infrastructure,

and the potential for foreign technical collaboration, she emphasized the need

to adopt a global approach to attract investment.

Rakesh Gupta, General Manager, MKU Limited, shared the journey

of indigenous manufacturing in the Indian defense sector, noting that MKU has

played a key role in producing specialized snow boots, lightweight composite

armor, and ballistic protection equipment for the Indian Army. He emphasized

that world-class quality, participation in international exhibitions, strong

branding, and skilled human resources are essential for success in the global

market. Industries should train local youth to create a global workforce.

UKS Director Kumar Abhishek stated that Uttar Pradesh and Bihar

are key sources of human resources for the country's industrial growth. A large

number of skilled workers could return to their home states if adequate

employment opportunities and appropriate wages were available. He highlighted

the potential for self-reliance in parachute fabric, high-altitude garments,

and other technical textiles and suggested developing specialized training

programs in collaboration with industry-based skill development, the National

Technical Textiles Mission, and higher education institutions.

Bhaskar Kalra, a senior official with the Ministry of Textiles,

Government of India, described the technical textiles sector as a

high-value-added and rapidly growing sector of the textile industry. He noted

that demand for technical textiles is steadily increasing in sectors such as

healthcare, defense, infrastructure, and transportation. He outlined various

initiatives by the Government of India for research, innovation,

standardization, skill development, and industry promotion under the National

Technical Textiles Mission.

Experts suggest measures to make Uttar Pradesh a global textile

hub: During panel discussions, experts offered several key suggestions for

making Uttar Pradesh a global hub for sports, protective, and defense textiles.

These included the establishment of dedicated industrial clusters for sports

and technical textiles, the development of advanced testing laboratories and

research centers, the creation of a complete industrial ecosystem for synthetic

fibers and technical textiles, greater coordination between the Defense

Corridor and the textile industry, the encouragement of global technology

partnerships and foreign investment, and the expansion of skill development,

training, and industry-based education programs.

Emphasis was also placed on promoting export-oriented production

based on high quality and global standards. Speakers expressed confidence that

through the combined efforts of the Uttar Pradesh government, industry,

educational institutions, and research organizations, the state will emerge as

a national and global hub for sports textiles, technical textiles, and protective

and defense textiles in the near future.

UPTEX-2026 will prove to be a boost for investment, employment

and exports: Through UPTEX-2026, the state's entire textile and apparel

industry, as well as emerging sectors such as technical textiles, sports

textiles, and protective and defense textiles, were discussed extensively. The

program placed special emphasis on strengthening coordination between the

government, industry, investors, training institutions, and research

organizations.

The exchange of Letters of Comfort, checks for financial

incentives, and Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with industrial units at

the event marked important initiatives in this direction. This has further

strengthened the state's prospects for investment, the establishment of

industrial units, employment generation, and export promotion.

The event was attended by several senior officials, industry

representatives, and dignitaries, including K. Vijayendra Pandian, Director of

the Department of Handlooms and Textiles, Seshamani Pandey, Special Secretary,

and Chandrima Chatterjee, General Secretary of the Confederation of Indian

Textile Industry (CITI). The program concluded with a vote of thanks, marking

the formal conclusion of the successful and historic UPTEX-2026.

Hindusthan Samachar / Abhishek Awasthi