The Textile Association (India), Mumbai Unit successfully organised an International Conference on “TEXTILES 2030 – Navigating Geopolitics, Technology Innovations and Global Expectations” on Friday, 30 January 2026 at Hotel The Lalit, Mumbai. The conference witnessed an overwhelming response, with around 350 delegates representing manufacturers, exporters, technology providers, academicians and policy stakeholders.
Mr. V. C. Gupte, Chairman, TAI Mumbai Unit and Convener of the Conference, welcomed the Chief Guest Ms. Roop Rashi (IA&AS), CEO, KVIC, along with industry leaders, speakers and delegates. He highlighted the growing impact of geopolitics, FTAs, ESG regulations and the need for Indian textiles to move towards value-added products to remain globally competitive.
In his Presidential Address, Mr. Rajiv Ranjan, President, TAI Mumbai Unit, emphasised that TEXTILES 2030 is a mindset, calling for the integration of sustainability, digital enablement, automation, AI, circularity, design and branding. He underlined the importance of preparedness to benefit from recent trade agreements, including the India–EU FTA.
Mr. R. K. Vij, President, The Textile Association (India), stressed the need for a forward-looking, globally aligned strategy to strengthen India’s position in the international textile value chain, while Mr. G. V. Aras, Conference Chairman, outlined the structure and objectives of the carefully curated programme.
The keynote address by Mr. Prashant Agarwal, Co-Founder and Joint Managing Director, Wazir Advisors, provided a comprehensive overview of the TEXTILES 2030 landscape, focusing on geopolitical shifts, regulatory frameworks and evolving global expectations. Mr. Murugan Thenkondar, President and Global Head – Marketing and Business Development, Birla Cellulose, Grasim Industries Ltd., attended as Guest of Honour and appreciated the relevance of the theme.
Awards and Recognition
The Lifetime Achievement Award was conferred upon Mr. Amrishbhai Patel, Chairman, Deesan Group of Companies, in recognition of his outstanding contribution to industry, education and society. The Industrial Excellence Award was jointly presented to Mr. Edward Menezes and Mr. Sunil Chari of Rossari Biotech Ltd. for their leadership and innovation in textile chemicals.
Knowledge-Rich Technical Sessions
The conference featured three technical sessions covering fibre innovation, green surfactants, recycling technologies, renewable energy integration, ESG regulations, transparency, digital product passports and global compliance requirements. Presentations by experts from Birla Cellulose, Rossari Biotech, Oerlikon, Tata Power Renewable Energy, Global Standards GmbH, Green Story Europe and Hirdaramani Apparel were widely appreciated.
Industry-First All-Women Panel
A key highlight was the industry-first All-Women Panel Discussion on “Women Leadership Driving a Change in the Textile & Apparel Sector”, moderated by Ms. Neha Gupta. Eminent women leaders from manufacturing, technology, sustainability and global business shared insights on leadership, inclusion, innovation and future-ready organisations.
The conference concluded with a strong message that while global challenges persist, the Indian textile and apparel industry holds significant opportunities for growth, resilience and leadership. Mr. Haresh B. Parekh, Hon. Secretary, TAI Mumbai Unit, proposed the vote of thanks, marking a successful and forward-looking industry gathering.
