The Prime Minister, Narendra Modi today inaugurated Textiles India 2017, India’s first ever mega textiles trade fair, being held at Gandhinagar, Gujarat. Addressing the gathering at Mahatma Mandir, Gandhinagar, the PM said that based on Make in India, the textile industry is being infused with the mantras of 'skill,scale,speed' & 'zero-defect, zero-effect'. The PM said that the textile sector offers significant employment opportunities, it being the second largest employer after agriculture. The Prime Minister expressed the hope that Textiles India 2017 helps familiarize global & Indian leaders with India’s enabling policy environment, strengths & vast opportunities. The full text of the Prime Minister’s address is available here.The PM had earlier inaugurated the Textiles India exhibition, organized at Helipad Ground, Gandhinagar.Addressing the gathering, the Union Textiles Minister, Smt. Smriti Zubin Irani said that history will be created in the field of textiles today, with the success of this mega event. The Minister said that Textiles India 2017 gives fillip to Honourable Prime Minister’s dream of Make in India. She said that besides seeking to engage participants in coversations leading to strategic partnerships that encourage investments, the mega event seeks also to bring together leaders in the global textile value chain together on one platform, to envision a glorious future for the Indian textiles industry. She informed that global citizens from 106 countries, 15,000 Indian buyers and sellers, 2,500 international buyers, international delegates and representatives and artisans and weavers who enthrall us with their craft have come together under one roof on this occasion.Smt. Irani said that Textiles India 2017 brings together textiles, traditions and technology. She said it compliments the Prime Minister’s desire to strengthen the entire Indian textile value chain, comprising the journey of Farm to Fibre, Fibre to Fabric, Fabric to Fashion and Fashion to Foreign.
Minister of State for Textiles, Shri Ajay Tamta, and Ministers representing Gujarat, Telangana, Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Assam and Karnataka were among several dignitaries who participated in the inaugural session. Governor of Gujarat, Shri O. P. Kohli; Chief Minister of Gujarat, Shri Vijay Rupani, Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Shri N. Chandrababu Naidu and MoS, Textiles, Shri Ajay Tamta addressed the audience. Minister for Irrigation, Handloom and Textile and Sericulture, Government of Assam, Shri Ranjit Dutta; Minister for Textiles, Government of Karnataka, Shri Rudrappa Manappa Lamani and Minister for Cooperation, Textiles and Marketing, Government of Maharashtra, Shri Subash Deshmukh and Chairman, Jharkhand State Gramodyog Board, Shri Sanjay Sheth were also present.Chief Minister of the host state Gujarat, Shri Vijay Rupani said that Gujarat is fortunate to have gotten the opportunity to host Textiles India 2017. Shri Chandrababu Naidu complimented the Ministry of Textiles for organizing the event, saying that the textiles sector will continue to survive for times to come.Several captains of the industry were also present on the occasion, including President, US Polo association, Mr. David Cummings; CEO, UK India Business Council, Mr. Richard Heald; MD, Arvind Mills, Shri Sanjay Lalbhai; Chairman and MD, Raymond, Shri Gautam Hari Singhania; Chairman, Aditya Birla Group, Shri Kumar Mangalam Birla and Chairman of Korea Federation of Textile Industries (KOFOTI), Mr. Kihak Sung.