Panipat's textile industry urged to innovate with yarn blends for growth

Union textiles minister Giriraj Singh met over 150 textile manufacturers and exporters in Panipat, Haryana, addressing key challenges faced by SMEs in the region. The meeting, organized by the Handloom Export Promotion Council (HEPC) and the Panipat Exporters Association, focused on policy issues such as infrastructure development, export promotion, Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), and support for SMEs to enhance their international competitiveness.

The minister emphasized the need for innovation in product development, suggesting new blends such as jute with bamboo and recycled cotton with synthetic fibers for floor-coverings and carpets. He also stressed the importance of adopting Green Energy to meet factory energy needs and encouraged collaboration between Panipat's carpet industry and Kolkata's jute sector.

He outlined a target for India’s textile market to reach $350 billion, with exports of $150 billion by 2030. M Beena, Development Commissioner (Handlooms), highlighted Panipat’s export potential, urging exporters to seize opportunities in the global market. Senior industry figures also spoke at the meeting, including Lalit Kumar Goel and Ashok Gupta.

Panipat, known as the ‘city of weavers,’ is a major hub for floor coverings and carpets, contributing Rs 12,000 crores annually to exports and employing around 8-10 lakh workers. The city exports textiles globally, including to the USA, Europe, and Australia.