Global stakeholders in the textile industry convened in Ahmedabad, India for a technology symposium to discuss the sector's future. The World Textile Conference-3, organized by the Textile Association (India), brought together delegates from various countries such as India, the United States, Germany, Switzerland, South Africa, and Uganda to deliberate on the entire textile value chain from cotton to industrial textiles to marketing.

Mahendrabhai Patel, Honorary Secretary of TAI, stated that the conference aimed to be of service to the global textile sector during this critical period.

The conference focused on four key themes, Economy and textile sector, Growth and fiber balance (Natural vs. Synthetics), Sustainability and Innovation and Training Next Generation and Research.

According to Bryan Haynes, Technical Director Global Nonwovens of Kimberly-Clark, growth in manufacturing is happening in the APAC region, and India is a critical player in this equation. Dr. P. R. Roy highlighted the need to re-strategize in the post-COVID-19 era due to the shift in global growth equation, supply chain issues, and skilled labor issues.

Leaders from leading fiber companies discussed the availability of fibers for the industry, which will require about 20 million tons in the next 3-4 years. Effective utilization of resources like fibers is critical for the sector.

An important recurring theme was the need for a skilled next-generation workforce and creating more awareness of emerging technologies. Gandhiraj Krishnasamy, Honorary Secretary of the South India Unit of TAI, stated that the Indian textile sector needs more practical knowledge and project details on technical textiles.