We Need Clear Focus and Strategic Planning to Build Capacities, Develop Infrastructure and Create Competitive Ecosystem: Gurudas Aras
Bharat Tex 2025, India’s largest global textile event, has successfully brought together industry players from across the textile value chain. Gurudas Aras shared his insights on the evolving trends at the exhibition and India’s preparedness to capitalize on emerging opportunities.
Reflecting on the exhibition, Aras emphasized the increasing focus on value-added products in the Indian textile sector. “Amongst fabric manufacturers, I see a clear shift up the value chain. Many have diversified into specialized segments like institutional fabrics, protective textiles, and hospital textiles,” he noted.
One of the major trends he highlighted was the expansion into defence textiles. “Defence fabric requires specialized treatments, including coating and chemical finishing. I found several companies entering this space, which is a significant move for the industry,” he said. The technical textiles sector also witnessed growth, with both startups and established players showcasing innovative products in filtration, automotive and defence applications.
Aras acknowledged Bharat Tex 2025’s significance in providing a platform for manufacturers, exporters and even small-scale industries to showcase their capabilities. “Before Bharat Tex, India lacked a textile event of this scale. This show allows us to demonstrate our industry’s strengths to the world,” he said. However, he stressed that the exhibition’s ultimate success should be measured by its ability to attract buyers and convert opportunities into long-term business growth.
Despite the enthusiasm at Bharat Tex 2025, Aras pointed out critical challenges in India’s textile ecosystem. “India has a huge potential for garment exports, but we lack the necessary capacity, infrastructure and skilled workforce. Even if buyers show interest, without these elements in place, we cannot scale up production,” he explained.
He cited Bangladesh as an example, where recent geopolitical and trade shifts briefly diverted orders to India, only for them to return to Bangladesh due to India’s inadequate production ecosystem. “The opportunity was lost once again. We need to be prepared for such shifts in global trade,” he remarked.
One of the distinguishing factors of Bharat Tex 2025 was strong government participation. “Government officials attended many sessions. I hope they take industry inputs seriously and formulate policies that support holistic growth rather than benefiting only individual associations or segments,” Aras stated.
He also emphasized the need for a unified approach across the textile value chain. “Every segment of the industry—from fibre producers to garment manufacturers—needs to work together. Currently, each association focuses on its own interests rather than the industry as a whole,” he observed.
Aras concluded by stressing the need for concrete actions beyond exhibitions and conferences. “Holding exhibitions and seminars alone won’t take us anywhere. We need a clear focus and strategic planning to build capacities, develop infrastructure and create a competitive ecosystem,” he said.
Bharat Tex 2025 has showcased India’s strengths in textile manufacturing, but as Aras pointed out, translating this showcase into sustainable growth will require much more than just participation—it will demand strategic execution, investment in capacity-building and a collaborative approach to policymaking.
