India’s Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC), under Ministry of Textiles has a new Secretary General, Mithileshwar Thakur. He is a member of the ’89 batch of Civil Service.

“My mantra for exponential growth of Indian Textiles and Apparel sector is investment, innovation and integration of value chain”, says Thakur on his new role. “The focus should be on building scale, skill and technology besides diversification of products basket and strengthening of Brand India,” he said.

The idea is to align the industry’s approach with the government’s vision to make India a favoured textiles destination, he added.

Earlier, he served as Additional Director General in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and was extensively involved in the formulation and implementation of India’s Foreign Trade policy; administration of Trade Remedy Measures; amendment of Anti-dumping, Anti-subsidy and Safeguard Rules and negotiation of Free Trade Agreements/ CECA/CEPA.

He had also headed Trade Division in the Department of Commerce. Thakur has in-depth knowledge of Customs, Excise and GST laws and procedures.