PANIPAT, INDIA: The PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI), in collaboration with the National Technical Textiles Mission (NTTM), Ministry of Textiles, Government of India, organised a high-level “Chintan Shivir on Technical Transformation of Panipat’s Textile Industry” Friday, at Geeta Sarovar Portico, Panipat. The event brought together senior government officials, industry leaders, experts, and innovators to discuss the future of technical textiles, sustainability, recycling, and high-value growth for the Panipat textile ecosystem.
At the inaugural session of the PHDCCI event, R K Vij welcomed distinguished speakers, industry leaders, innovators, and partners, highlighting the city’s identity as India’s leading hub for textile recycling.
In his address, R K Vij introduced the launch of several major national initiatives aimed at strengthening sustainability and innovation in the textile sector. He introduced the “Atal Centre of Textile Recycling and Sustainability,” developed under the NTTM project and coordinated by Prof. Bipin Kumar of IIT Delhi, which will focus on advanced recycling technologies and circular economy practices.
He further announced the launch of the “National Flag Recycling” initiative, curated by Maj. Gen. Ashim Kohli (Retd.), marking an important step toward respectful and environment-friendly disposal of the national flag. The event also featured Technology Transfer agreements with start-ups and industry partners to promote real-world adoption of new textile innovations.
Additionally, R K Vij introduced the “Textile-Tech-Innovator for Textile Entrepreneurs” programme, supported by the Atal Incubation Centre, IIT Delhi, aimed at nurturing next-generation textile entrepreneurs.
He highlighted the government’s strong support through PLI schemes, emphasizing their role in boosting manufacturing, sustainability, and competitiveness in the textile industry.
Following the welcome address, Sunil Kumar Puri, renowned as The Knitting Guru, delivered an insightful presentation on “Technical Textiles: Opportunities & Enablers for the Panipat Sector.” He highlighted how flat-bed knitting technology is emerging as one of the most versatile solutions for the future of technical textiles.
Puri explained that modern flat knitting machines offer exceptional versatility—capable of creating 2D and 3D structures, fully-fashioned products, complex shapes, and advanced engineered designs. These machines support a wide range of yarns and can seamlessly integrate padding, guards, hoods, and even logos directly into knitted forms, eliminating seams and reducing waste.
He emphasised the expanding application areas of technical textiles across medical, aerospace, automotive, sports, recreation, and industrial sectors. Presenting global examples, he showcased how the technology enables knitted turbine blades, seamless protective gear, and fully engineered structures.
Puri elaborated on composite materials, including fibre-reinforced polymers using carbon, glass, and aramid fibres, which offer high strength, low weight, and superior performance—qualities increasingly demanded by modern industries.
A major focus of his presentation was the rise of smart, conductive, and responsive textiles. These include fabrics with integrated sensors, circuits, and communication capabilities for health monitoring, movement tracking, and wearable electronics. He highlighted innovations such as knitted ECG monitors, battery-free medical sensors, cooling garments for firefighters, and advanced compression therapy products for orthopaedics and venous care. He concluded by emphasising the vast potential for Panipat’s textile ecosystem to adopt these innovations, upgrade capacity, explore new product segments, and strengthen its position in high-value technical textiles.
Prof. Bipin announced the establishment of the “Atal Centre of Textile Recycling and Sustainability”, a first-of-its-kind initiative aimed at driving circularity, advanced recycling technologies, and sustainable production practices within India’s textile ecosystem.
The event also marked the launch of the “National Flag Recycling” initiative, curated by Maj Gen Ashim Kohli (Retd.), providing a dignified and environmentally responsible system for respectful recycling of the national flag.
Speaking at the launch of the “National Flag Recycling” initiative, Maj Gen Ashim Kohli (Retd.) highlighted the deep national significance and responsibility associated with the respectful handling of the Indian Tricolour. He explained that millions of flags are used across the country every year, especially during national festivals, campaigns, and public celebrations—but most lack a dignified, environmentally responsible disposal pathway.
He emphasised that the new initiative aims to create India’s first structured and scientific mechanism for the collection, dignified handling, and eco-friendly recycling of the national flag, in full alignment with the Flag Code of India. Maj. Gen. Kohli noted that the process has been designed with utmost respect, ensuring that every flag is honoured even at the end of its lifecycle.
He further stressed that this mission blends patriotism with sustainability, preventing the flags from ending up in landfills or being discarded improperly. He urged industry partners, institutions, and citizens to actively support the initiative and help build a national model for responsible flag stewardship.
The inaugural programme also featured a special Felicitation Ceremony recognising outstanding contributions to the textile ecosystem.
In the industry expectations segment, Vinod Dhamija, Chairman–Panipat Chapter, Haryana Chamber of Commerce & Industry (HCCI) and Director, Sahil International, shared his insights on the current export scenario of the Panipat textile cluster. He highlighted Panipat’s long-standing reputation as a global supplier of home textiles, including rugs, carpets, mats, and recycled yarns, which reach markets across Europe, the US, and the Middle East. He stressed the need for technology upgrades, sustainable practices, innovation, and skill development to meet international standards. Appreciating initiatives like the Atal Centre and technology transfers, he said these will help Panipat move into high-value technical textiles and boost export competitiveness. He urged collective efforts from industry, government, and academia to build a future-ready export ecosystem.
Lalit Kumar Goel, Managing Director, Riviera Home Furnishings Pvt Ltd & Chairman, HEPC, shared his views on Panipat’s export strength, noting its strong global presence in home textiles and value-added products. He highlighted the need for continued focus on quality, compliance, and innovation to stay competitive in international markets. Mr. Goel thanked PHDCCI and NTTM for organising the event and bringing industry, experts, and policymakers together to support Panipat’s growth in both traditional and technical textile segments.
Pavinder Kadyan, MD, Aadi Sustainability Solutions Pvt. Ltd. and Chairman, Global Alliance for Textile Sustainability Council (GATS), shared that while industry leaders consistently provide valuable inputs on key challenges, many issues remain unresolved. He stressed that exports must remain the central focus for Panipat’s growth and urged the need for faster action, policy support, and stronger collaboration to address industry concerns effectively.
As the Guest of Honour, Rajinder Kumar, Economic Advisor, Ministry of Textiles, appreciated PHDCCI and NTTM for organising the Chintan Shivir and bringing key stakeholders together for meaningful dialogue. He highlighted the growing importance of technical textiles, noting their expanding role in healthcare, defence, mobility, infrastructure, and sustainability. Kumar stated that the government, through NTTM, is actively supporting the sector with standards, incentives, and capacity-building initiatives.
Speaking about Panipat, he acknowledged its strong presence in recycling and home textiles and emphasised its potential to evolve into a technology-driven innovation hub. He noted that the initiatives launched during the event—recycling centres, technology transfers, and entrepreneurship programmes—will help Panipat upgrade and diversify. He encouraged industry players to focus on quality, compliance, and sustainability to strengthen global competitiveness.
In the video message, Pabitra Margherita, Hon’ble Minister of State for Textiles, Government of India, expressed his enthusiasm for the Chintan Shivir and conveyed his regret at being unable to attend in person. He thanked PHDCCI for organising an event that brings together industry leaders, experts, and innovators to discuss the future of textiles. The Minister shared his excitement about the ideas emerging from the platform and appreciated the collaborative spirit between industry, academia, and government. Speaking about Panipat, he acknowledged its vital role as a leading textile and recycling hub and encouraged the region to continue advancing towards technology-driven, sustainable growth.
Ashok Malhotra, Mission Director, NTTM, Ministry of Textiles, delivered the keynote address, providing a detailed overview of the significant, tangible progress achieved under the National Technical Textiles Mission. He shared compelling data, revealing that since its launch in FY21 with an outlay of INR 1480 crore, the NTTM has sanctioned 168 R&D projects with a grant of INR 550 crore, that includes 61 new product development, 48 sustainability development related, 21 related to import substitution, with 31 patents already applied for and 10 projects nearing completion.
Furthermore, the mission has approved 24 start-ups with a grant of INR 12 crore and facilitated the development of 24 skill development courses, successfully training over 1000 individuals. Mr. Malhotra strongly emphasized the strategic opportunities for the traditional textile industry to leverage these achievements and diversify into high-margin technical textile segments, thereby maximizing infrastructure utilization and value addition to strengthen national competitiveness.
Following the inaugural session, the programme moved into two insightful technical sessions. Session 1, themed “Recycling, Circularity & Startups,” was expertly moderated by Prof Bipin Kumar from IIT Delhi. The panel brought together key industry and research leaders including Dr M S Parmar, DG, NITRA; Dr Nandan Kumar, CMD, HPT Textiles; Manish Chhabra, Partner, Satyam Polyknits; Alok Pandey, CEO, AIC Sonipat; and Ravi Kumar, General Manager – Technical Head, Teijin India Pvt Ltd. The discussions highlighted indigenous recycling solutions, fire-retardant HomeTech innovations, and opportunities for technological upgrades in Panipat’s textile ecosystem.
Session 2 focused on “Quality, Compliance, Skills and Cluster Collaboration,” moderated by Nishant Anand from Bureau Veritas. The panel featured distinguished experts including J K Gupta, Scientist-E & HoD, Textiles Department, BIS; Dr. Sudershan Dhamija, HoD, PIET; Dr. Swapna Mishra, CEO, TSSC; and Dr S Vaibhav from IIT Mandi’s iHub and HCi Foundation.
Throughout the day, the conference benefited immensely from the moderation by Rakesh Kumar Sangrai, Director, PHDCCI. His insightful facilitation of both the Inaugural and Panel Sessions ensured dynamic engagement between speakers and the over 200 delegates, who included representatives from large textile companies, MSMEs, consultants, R&D institutions, testing & certification organizations, and academia.
The Panipat Technical Textiles Chintan Shivir concluded on an inspiring note, bringing together industry leaders, policymakers, researchers, and innovators on one collaborative platform. The discussions across all sessions highlighted a shared commitment to technological transformation, sustainability, quality enhancement, and global competitiveness for the Panipat textile cluster. With new initiatives launched, knowledge exchanged, and partnerships strengthened, the event marked an important step toward shaping a high-value, future-ready textile ecosystem.
PHDCCI extended sincere thanks to all dignitaries, speakers, partners, and participants for making the programme a meaningful and impactful success.
