Dr. A. Sakthivel, Chairman, Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC), congratulated Hon’ble Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi for a fruitful AI Conference. The session was highly impactful and productive, which brought together global leaders, innovators, and industry stakeholders on a common platform to discuss the transformative role of artificial intelligence.
The successful organisation of the AI Summit reflects India’s growing leadership and credibility in the global technology ecosystem and showcases the country’s remarkable prowess in AI, digital innovation, and emerging technologies. Advancements in AI and technology will play a crucial role in enhancing efficiency, sustainability, and competitiveness across sectors, including textiles and apparel.
CREDITS: PR received from AEPC India official id. The content has not been edited and reviewed by us.

I’m happy to share a comprehensive write-up on High Visibility Safety Clothing, prepared with the support of ChatGPT for the benefit of all stakeholders in the field of technical textiles.
In this document, I have highlighted how Artificial Intelligence (AI)—specifically ChatGPT—was used as a knowledge partner throughout the process.

The entire write-up was completed in less than 10 hours, thanks to the efficiency and versatility of this AI tool.

Preface
The built environment is undergoing a profound transformation. Rapid urbanization, sustainability imperatives and the rise of smart cities are reshaping how we design and construct spaces. In this changing landscape, BuildTech—the application of technical textiles and composites in construction—has emerged as a pivotal enabler of modern architecture and infrastructure.
While the use of fabrics in construction dates back centuries, their evolution into high-performance structural and functional materials marks a major technological leap. Today’s BuildTech systems—tensile membrane roofs, façade meshes, acoustic insulation and safety nets—combine science, engineering and aesthetics in ways that traditional materials like concrete and steel cannot. This integration dissolves disciplinary boundaries among textile technology, civil and structural engineering, polymer science and architecture, fostering a truly interdisciplinary field of innovation.

The Authentication Solution Providers’ Association (ASPA), in collaboration with CRISIL, will launch the ‘State of Counterfeiting in India 2025’ report at the upcoming TAF Connect 2026, one-day national conference scheduled for 16th March 2026 at Mumbai. The report offers sector-specific insights, emerging risk trends, and actionable strategies to combat counterfeiting across the pharmaceuticals, FMCG, and agriculture sectors, reinforcing India’s commitment to consumer safety, supply-chain integrity, and brand protection.

TAF Connect 2026 will serve as the platform for this report launch, bringing together brand owners, regulators, policymakers, and solution providers. The one-day national conference will feature panel discussions, technical presentations, policy dialogues, and solution showcases, aimed at translating awareness into implementation-ready anti-counterfeiting solutions.

We all have that perfect pair of jeans, the fit, the colour, the style that feels made for us. But behind the seams lies a concerning reality: producing a single pair consumes nearly 3,781 litres of water, enough to sustain one person’s drinking needs for approxi- mately five years or keep a shower running for more than seven hours. In a country where 163 million people lack access to safe drinking water, this is more than a statistic; it’s a serious point for reflection.

India’s textile industry contributes 2.3% to GDP and employs over 45 million people, yet it remains one of the largest consumers and polluters of water. Wet processing units, where fabrics are dyed, printed, and finished, are particularly resource- intensive. In hubs like Tirupur and Faridabad, groundwater depletion and contamination have reached serious levels.

India’s technical textiles sector offers significant opportunities for MSMEs, yet many first-time entrepreneurs hesitate due to unfamiliar technologies, standards, compliance requirements, and market complexities.

The textile industry has traditionally been associated with apparel, home furnishings and decorative products, where fashion trends, seasonal demand and price competition largely determine market success. Over the past few decades, however, this landscape has undergone a fundamental transformation with the emergence of technical textiles—textile materials engineered primarily for functional performance rather than aesthetics. This evolution marks a shift from “textiles for appearance” to “textiles for application,” opening new and more resilient growth pathways for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).

Shaping the Future of Technical Textiles in Bhiwani!
PHDCCI is pleased to announce the International Conference on Technical Textiles, focusing on the high-growth sectors of Textile Structural Composites and Geosynthetics.

Rakesh Kumar Sangrai, Director, PHDCCI, called on the Hon’ble Minister of Textiles, Shri Giriraj Singh, to extend an invitation on behalf of PHDCCI for the upcoming PHDCCI International Conference on Technical Textiles. The Hon’ble Minister graciously accepted the invitation to be the Chief Guest at the conference.

The Northern India Textile Mills’ Association (NITMA),  wholeheartedly welcomes the landmark conclusion of negotiations for the India–European Union (EU) Free Trade Agreement (FTA). This historic milestone, announced at the 16th India-EU Summit, marks a transformative chapter for the Indian textile and apparel sector.
NITMA extends its profound gratitude to the Hon’ble PM, Shri Narendra Modi, for his visionary leadership and unwavering commitment to positioning India as a global economic powerhouse. The association also expresses its sincere appreciation to Shri Piyush Goyal, Hon’ble Minister of Commerce & Industry and Shri Giriraj Singh , Hon’ble Minister for Textiles, along with  the committed officials of their ministries ,for their tireless efforts in navigating these complex negotiations to secure a "balanced and fair" deal that safeguards the interests of the domestic industry while unlocking unprecedented global opportunities.

India-EU FTA : ‘mother of all deals’
Aepc: Top asks is tariff elimination from sector

“Once the FTA is in place and we get zero duty, we can get more orders from the 27 coun-
tries in the bloc as we will be at par with Bangladesh, especial-
ly given the raw material ad-
vantage that we enjoy. A boost for apparel will also be good for the entire value chain, from cotton to fabrics and yarn,” sa-
id A Sakthivel, chairman of AEPC.

Webinar on Technical Textiles in Build-Tech & Geo-Tech | 7 February 2026
Date & Time:  7 February 2026, starting at 11:00 AM - 3 PM
Mode: Virtual (Zoom)
Participation: Free and open to all 
The webinar aims to create awareness and multidisciplinary engagement across textiles and allied sectors.

When AI Accelerates HR—but Humans Decide
The Digital screen almost felt like a movie scene that morning. Our first AI based Recruitment Dashboard had just gone Live. It showed ten shortlisted candidates with almost perfect accuracy for a Senior Merchandising Role, based on the details written in the Job Description. The numbers looked clean and confident. It promised speed, clarity and a new way of working.

But as I stood there, I smiled quietly. My years in HR have taught me one truth. No matter how accurate a system is, it cannot replace human connection. It cannot understand a person’s fear, ambition or life experiences. Those things come alive only when we speak to people, observe them and try to understand their feelings.

Conference on The Quality Mandate in Manufacturing: Architecture for a ViksitBharat
India’s aspiration to emerge as a globally competitive manufacturing powerhouse under the Viksit Bharat vision demands strong alignment between national policies and international quality and regulatory frameworks. Micro,

Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) play a vital role in India’s manufacturing growth, employment generation, and innovation. Strengthening their capacity to comply with standards and Quality Control Orders (QCOs) is critical for improving product quality, enhancing market access, and building long-term competitiveness.