Lucknow: The Uttar Pradesh government is set to showcase the state’s growing potential in the textile and apparel sector through UP Tex-2026, a two-day industry event scheduled to be held at Indira Gandhi Pratishthan in Lucknow on September 8 and 9.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will inaugurate the event and interact with leading entrepreneurs from the textile and apparel industry during a high-level roundtable discussion focused on investment, industrial expansion and employment generation.
The government aims to position Uttar Pradesh as a major national and global hub for textile manufacturing and apparel by promoting investment, employment and exports while connecting the state’s handloom, silk, apparel, technical textile and handicraft sectors with international markets.
New Textile Initiatives to be Launched
During the inaugural session, the Chief Minister will launch the ‘UP Tex Mitra’ portal, along with the Handloom Weavers Prosperity Scheme and the Uttar Pradesh Textile Sector Training and Skill Development Scheme.
Letters related to investment proposals, cheques and investment agreements are also scheduled to be exchanged during the event.
UP Tex-2026 will bring together leading industry representatives, investors, experts and institutional stakeholders to discuss investment opportunities, manufacturing capacity, exports, technical textiles and the expansion of modern apparel manufacturing in Uttar Pradesh.
A key feature of the first day will be a high-level interaction chaired by the Chief Minister with leading textile and apparel entrepreneurs, providing an opportunity to discuss industry expansion and gather suggestions from investors and businesses.
Focus on AI, Automation and Digitalisation
A joint study by CITI-NITRA, titled ‘Readiness of the Indian Textile and Apparel Industry for AI, Automation and Digitalisation’, will also be released during the event.
The report is expected to provide insights into the increasing adoption of artificial intelligence, automation and digital technologies in the textile and apparel industry and help assess the sector’s future technological and workforce requirements.
Special discussions will also focus on developing the PM MITRA and Sant Kabir Textile Parks as globally competitive manufacturing and investment destinations. The proposed strategy will focus on integrating the entire value chain, from fibre to apparel and technical textiles, while attracting major domestic and international investors.
The parks are expected to provide an investment-friendly ecosystem supported by land, infrastructure, testing facilities, transportation and other services.
Home Textiles and Apparel Manufacturing in Focus
The government expects textile parks to drive large-scale investment and employment while integrating MSMEs into larger value chains, promoting technology transfer and skill development, and boosting exports.
A dedicated session on home textiles will examine opportunities in bed linen, towels, curtains, furnishings, carpets, rugs and other products. Discussions will focus on value addition, investment, technological innovation, exports and positioning Uttar Pradesh as a major supply centre for global brands.
Another session, titled ‘Scale UP Apparel’, will explore strategies to transform small and unorganised apparel manufacturing units into organised and globally competitive enterprises. Participants will discuss modern apparel clusters, automation, digital production systems and ways to connect Uttar Pradesh’s MSMEs with global apparel value chains.
Sports and Defence Textiles to Get Special Attention
Sessions on September 9 will focus on developing Uttar Pradesh as a major manufacturing hub for sports textiles and sports goods, as well as a national centre for protective and defence textiles.
The sports textiles session will examine the development of an integrated value chain covering fibres and technical textiles, sportswear, footwear, equipment and accessories. Investment, research and innovation and export opportunities will also be discussed.
The session on defence and protective textiles will focus on developing an integrated industrial ecosystem for manufacturing protective clothing, ballistic textiles, camouflage fabrics and other high-performance advanced materials.
The discussions will also explore ways to connect the requirements of the defence sector with the capabilities of Uttar Pradesh’s textile, engineering, MSME and manufacturing industries to strengthen domestic production.
Roadmap for Global Handicraft Exports
UP Tex-2026 will also feature a dedicated session on preparing a roadmap to increase exports of Uttar Pradesh’s handicrafts and handmade products.
The session will explore ways to transform traditional craft clusters into export-oriented production systems, develop products suited to contemporary designs and global demand, improve quality and certification, and connect artisans with international buyers through digital commerce.
Special emphasis will be placed on strengthening the global branding of Uttar Pradesh’s Geographical Indication (GI)-tagged products.
Through UP Tex-2026, the state government aims to accelerate investment, employment, technology adoption, skill development and exports, strengthening Uttar Pradesh’s position in global textile and apparel supply chains.
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