Dr. A. Sakthivel, Chairman of the Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC), has been appointed Chairman of the Bharat Tex Trade Federation, marking a significant development for India’s textile and apparel industry.
Following his appointment, Dr. Sakthivel met Shri Piyush Goyal, Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, and sought his blessings and guidance on taking forward the Federation’s objectives.
During the meeting, Dr. Sakthivel acknowledged the visionary leadership of Shri Piyush Goyal and recognised Bharat Tex as his brainchild — a landmark initiative aimed at bringing India’s entire textile value chain onto a common global platform and showcasing the country’s manufacturing and export capabilities to the world.
Shri Piyush Goyal highlighted the significant opportunities emerging from India’s existing and upcoming Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), which are expected to expand India’s access to international markets representing nearly 70% of global GDP. He also stressed the need to accord greater importance to Bharat Tex and strengthen it as a flagship global platform for India’s textile and apparel industry.
The appointment of Dr. Sakthivel is expected to provide further impetus to the Federation’s efforts to strengthen industry collaboration, promote textile and apparel exports and enhance India’s position in the global textile value chain.
The interaction also underscored the importance of close industry–government cooperation in capitalising on emerging trade opportunities and positioning India as a leading global hub for textiles and apparel.