ES. Having led India ITME Society for over a decade, what has been the most defining phase of your journey so far?
Dr. Seema Srivastava. India ITME Society was conceived with a vision to strengthen the Indian textile engineering industry by facilitating exchange of knowledge, technology transfer, and foreign investments. The organization has been relentlessly promoting trade and commerce through exhibitions, conferences and global networking initiatives. My journey with India ITME Society has been one of constant learning and evolution. Coming from a trade promotion background, the dynamics of trade were deeply ingrained in my professional DNA; however, the textile machinery sector, with its vast and diverse segments, was initially an uncharted territory challenging and intriguing.
Over the years, I have had the privilege of witnessing the remarkable transformation of the Indian textile machinery industry — from a market once dominated by international manufacturers to one where Indian companies have successfully established strong global brands. The most defining aspect of this journey has not been a single moment, but a series of milestones where India transitioned from being viewed merely as a buyer to becoming a trusted global partner and a land with massive opportunities, thanks to our population.
From organizing international exhibition in India aimed at bringing cutting-edge technologies for Indian textile buyers, to now representing Indian textile engineering and technology manufacturers globally. In 2020 we started on international journey through our flagship exhibition India ITME Africa & ME. Our trade promotion initiatives have expanded significantly through international roadshows and networking programs, including participation in various International Forums and most recently, mounting delegations to overseas market.
Our focus on bridging the gap between cross border trade has seen visitor delegation and knowledge exchange program with 78 participating countries. Other defining moments have also been the new initiatives that add value for our textile engineering ecosystem from e-library to the b2b women delegation and building a word class ITME Center for organizing training sessions, holding of trade events and conventions, meetings & all types of industry activities. Very recently it hosted UK – India trade coalition. It is witnessing the growing global reach of Indian machinery manufacturers while simultaneously welcoming international collaborations into India has been a matter of immense pride for all of us at India ITME Society.
As each edition grew larger and more impactful edition on edition, I feel proud to be part of a dedicated team that has transformed the organization beyond being just an exhibition organizer to a mega event for the entire ecosystem of textiles. Today, we actively contribute towards trade enhancement and knowledge-building initiatives through CEO conclaves, innovative product launches, the prestigious ITME Awards dedicated exclusively to the textile machinery and accessories industry, as well as fashion showcase and vibrant cultural programs that celebrate the spirit of our traditions and the golden decade of India’s textile industry.
ES. With global geopolitical shifts and changing trade alliances, how do you see India emerging as a stronger textile machinery and manufacturing hub?
Dr. Seema Srivastava. India’s vision is clear — the nation aspires to emerge as a global manufacturing powerhouse. With strategic geopolitical positioning, and a strong focus on collaborative growth, India is steadily advancing towards becoming one of the world’s most preferred manufacturing destinations.
The country’s recent trade agreements with the European Union and multiple FTAs with major global economies clearly indicate India’s intent to strengthen international trade partnerships and accelerate industrial growth. These initiatives are laying a strong foundation for India’s rise in advanced manufacturing sectors, including textile machinery & accessories.
In the textile machinery domain, global manufacturing dynamics are rapidly shifting. Rising power costs, increasing labour challenges, and skilled workforce shortages in Europe have accelerated the transition of manufacturing activities towards Asia. India, with its growing engineering capabilities, competitive workforce, and successful joint ventures with global leaders, is well positioned to emerge as a preferred hub for textile machinery and accessories manufacturing.
Today, several leading global spinning machinery brands have already established manufacturing bases in India — not only to serve the domestic market but also as export hubs catering to international demand. This reflects growing global confidence in India’s manufacturing ecosystem, engineering standards, and long-term market potential. India’s strong and balanced geopolitical approach, combined with it’s strong commitment towards ensuring raw material availability and supporting industrial growth, provides reassurance to global manufacturers looking for stable and reliable production destinations. The message from India is clear — growth in partnership.
The recent development of dedicated textile machinery parks in Uttar Pradesh, along with the Government’s ambitious vision of achieving US$ 100 billion in textile exports by 2030, further strengthens the outlook for technology adoption, innovation and manufacturing expansion. Sustainability, circularity, and energy-efficient manufacturing are becoming integral parts of India’s industrial policy framework, aligning the sector with future global requirements. India’s large textile manufacturing base, expanding domestic demand, strategic international alliances, rapid progress in electronics and component manufacturing and availability of multi-skilled manpower at competitive costs together form the key pillars for establishing India as a strong global force in textile machinery manufacturing.
ES. As supply chains continue to diversify beyond traditional markets, what new opportunities do you see for India ITME and the Indian textile industry globally?
Dr. Seema Srivastava. Globally, sustainability has become the defining focus for industrial growth. For India this is a massive opportunity with its abundance availability of natural fibres, technical know-how about processing these fibers and complete know-how along with supply chain management. India’s vision to achieve US$ 350 billion in textile market by 2030, coupled with its growing prominence in emerging
sectors such as technical textiles, sustainable manufacturing, smart factories, and AI-driven processes, is opening entirely new avenues for industrial growth. As technology evolution becomes central to competitiveness, the textile industry is witnessing accelerated demand for innovation, automation, energy-efficient systems, certifications and green technologies. Government initiatives such as the PM MITRA Scheme, the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme, and the upcoming TEX-ECO initiatives are expected to become major catalysts for the transformation of India’s textile industry. These progressive policy frameworks are not only encouraging manufacturing expansions, but are also creating a strong ecosystem for advanced technology adoption and sustainable industrial development. However, as India’s textile industry expands, the growth of the sector must be supported by the parallel advancement of India’s textile machinery manufacturing capabilities. The future competitiveness of the Indian textile sector will significantly depend on reducing import dependence and strengthening indigenous machinery and engineering capabilities. Building self-reliance in textile machinery manufacturing will ensure a more cost-effective, resilient, and seamless transition toward next-generation textile production.
For global textile machinery manufacturers, India today represents a strategic manufacturing destination driven by operational excellence, cost competitiveness, policy support, and one of the world’s largest domestic textile markets. These advantages make India an ideal base for globally renowned machinery producers looking to strengthen their international manufacturing footprints.
ES. India ITME has evolved from an exhibition platform into a global industry ecosystem – what is your long-term vision for its future?
Dr. Seema Srivastava. With the guiding motto of “Empowering Textiles through Trade & Technology,” the India ITME Society envisions a future where the Indian textile engineering industry emerges as a dominant force on the global platform. The Society is committed to empowering Indian textile machinery and accessory manufacturers by building a strong and sustainable ecosystem founded on four defining pillars:
Global Recognition
To facilitate the global expansion of the Indian textile engineering industry by promoting the manufacturing of state-of-the-art machinery and equipment in India through technological innovation, technology transfer, and international collaborations.
Innovation & Research Excellence
Innovation remains the cornerstone of long-term growth and continuous evolution. The Society strongly believes in supporting innovation-driven development by creating platforms for research, and development in appropriate textile technology, testing facilities, and state of the art innovation centres within our country that encourage technological advancement.
Industry–Academia Collaboration
The Society is deeply committed to fostering stronger collaboration between academia and industry. By supporting education, skill development, and institutional partnerships, it aims to create a synchronized ecosystem where industry requirements, technological progress, and academic excellence collectively contribute to the advancement of the textile sector.
Fostering Global Collaboration
To encourage collaboration with leading global manufacturers by bringing the entire textile machinery value chain to India, aligning with the nation’s vision of becoming a global manufacturing hub, and contributing towards realizing the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s 5F vision — Farm to Fibre, Fibre to Factory, Factory to Fashion, and Fashion to Foreign Markets
India ITME Society recognizes this transformational opportunity and continues to position itself as a strong trade facilitator through its trade desk initiatives for strategic collaborations, technology partnerships and sectoral growth.
The Society has already launched a wide range of initiatives and trade facilitation services aimed at accelerating opportunities for the Indian textile machinery industry. Its vision of identifying non-traditional markets and enabling global market access through dedicated trade services presents a major opportunity for textile machinery manufacturers and engineering services. ITME Africa & ME their overseas exhibition was first launched in 2019 allowing an easy gateway for the textile engineering sector into the vast untouched markets of Africa.
Further, initiatives such as regional show GTTES, road shows along with international networking platforms, technical conferences, and knowledge-sharing programs, are all strategically designed to facilitate business growth, technology exchange, and global trade opportunities for the textile machinery ecosystem.
