Calling for a renewed focus on innovation to maintain a competitive edge, Punjab's Cabinet Minister for Industries & Commerce, Investment Promotion, Power and Local Government Sanjeev Arora, on Saturday, urged the textile industry to prioritise research and development.
Addressing a session titled 'Textiles, Apparels and Technical Textiles' on the second day of the ‘Progressive Punjab Investors’ summit, the Minister highlighted the immense potential of indigenous institutions in driving this innovation.
Terming Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) a "diamond mine”, Sanjeev Arora encouraged industrialists to tap into its vast resources for research and development. "It is now up to our industry leaders on how best to utilise this premier institution to foster innovation and develop new technologies," he stated.
The Minister reaffirmed the Punjab Government's unwavering commitment to supporting such R&D initiatives, pledging the full backing of the Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann-led Punjab government.Industries Minsiter Sanjeev Arora also lauded the prowess of the local industry, asserting that the garment manufacturing sector in Ludhiana stands as the "best across the globe."
He stressed the critical need for the industry to explore sustainable practices, particularly through the maximum utilisation of paddy straw in the production of technical garments.Drawing a parallel with a past challenge that turned into an opportunity, the Minister said, "Like rice husk, which we once used to discard, is now a valuable commodity and nowhere is it available as waste.
The same will happen with paddy straw once it is systematically utilised in production."He emphasised that converting this agricultural residue into a resource for the textile sector would not only solve an environmental challenge but also open up new economic avenues.
The session featured prominent panelists including Administrative Secretary departments of Industries & Commerce and Investment Promotion Gurkirat Kirpal Singh, Amit Thapar from Ganga Acrowools, Sandeep Jha from Monte Carlo Fashions Limited and Dr Surbhi Mahajan from PAU, while, Mohit Bhasin from KPMG was a moderator.