Ashwin Chandran Takes Charge As CITI Chairman

Ashwin Chandran, Chairman & Managing Director of Precot Limited, has assumed charge as Chairman of the Confederation of Indian Textile Industry (CITI), following the 67th Annual General Meeting in New Delhi. Dinesh Nolkha, Chairman & Managing Director of Nitin Spinners Ltd., has been appointed Deputy Chairman, while Shreyaskar Chaudhary, Managing Director of Pratibha Syntex Ltd., will serve as Vice Chairman.

Chandran brings extensive experience heading Precot Limited, a leading cotton mill operating across Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. A former Chairman of the Southern India Mills Association (SIMA) and TEXPROCIL member, he holds a B.Sc. in Textile Technology from UMIST, UK, and a postgraduate management degree from the University of Illinois, USA. Nolkha, a Chartered and Cost Accountant, leads Nitin Spinners Ltd. and has held leadership roles with the Mewar Chamber of Commerce and NITRA. Chaudhary, heading India’s first Fair Trade and ZDHC Certified apparel manufacturer, is a recognized advocate of sustainability and ethical textile practices.

In his inaugural address, Chandran highlighted immediate and long-term priorities. He called for urgent stakeholder engagement, including with the government, to respond to the U.S. imposition of a 50% tariff on Indian textile and apparel exports, effective August 27, 2025. Looking ahead, he stressed “futureproofing India’s MSME-driven textile sector” through innovation, sustainability, skill development and knowledge sharing to enhance global competitiveness and leverage free trade agreements. “CITI remains fully committed to contributing to the Viksit Bharat mission,” he added.