MP MSME Delegates Visit Surat for Textile Industry Insights

Surat, Gujarat — In a significant initiative to strengthen the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) ecosystem, a high-level delegation from Madhya Pradesh Small Industries Corporation Limited visited Surat as part of the MSME Capacity Building Exposure Visit Program. The visit focused on technical learning, industrial networking, and knowledge exchange, particularly in the man-made textile sector.

The event was hosted by the Man Made Textile Research Association (MANTRA) and was attended by key dignitaries including Anil Thagal, State Nodal Officer (RAMP), Government of Madhya Pradesh; Rajendra Raikwar, CGM, MP Government; and Dr. Sunil. From the Surat side, Rajnikant Bachkaniwala, President of MANTRA, Praful Gandhi, Secretary of MANTRA, Nikhil Madrasi, President of SGCCI, and Ashok Jirawala, Vice President, SGCCI, graced the occasion.

Surat: A Textile Hub Leading by Innovation

While addressing the gathering, Rajnikant Bachkaniwala provided a historical overview of Surat’s transformation into a global textile hub. He emphasized the role of innovation, research, and collaborative efforts, with MANTRA being a key enabler in the city’s growth trajectory.

“Surat’s textile industry didn’t grow overnight. It evolved with focused efforts on innovation and skill development. MANTRA has been instrumental in empowering MSMEs through research and technology,” said Bachkaniwala.

Dr. Hitesh Jariwala, a senior official at MANTRA, presented the association’s ongoing work, ranging from research to technical training. He highlighted MANTRA’s extensive capabilities across technical textiles, environment testing, chemical and mechanical labs, garment technology, and its non-woven pilot plant.

Hands-On Learning for MP Delegates

The visiting delegation toured MANTRA’s various specialized laboratories and interacted directly with the technical teams to gain first-hand insights. These interactions allowed the delegates to understand advanced practices in man-made fibre-based textiles, research-oriented operations, and skill development modules.

“This visit gave us deep insight into Surat’s successful model of integrating research with industrial growth. The exchange of technical know-how was extremely beneficial,” said a delegate from MP Small Industries Nigam.

Following the MANTRA visit, the MP representatives were taken to Sachin GIDC and Pandesara’s Lakshmipati Group of Industries — two major textile clusters in Surat. These site visits helped showcase the scalability and modernisation achieved by Surat’s textile MSMEs, reinforcing how innovation can drive sectoral growth.

Empowering MSMEs through Knowledge Exchange

The core objective of the programme was to foster collaboration between MSMEs across states and enhance their capacity to innovate, compete, and grow. The initiative aligns with the central government’s larger MSME mission of technical cooperation, skill building, and cross-industry learning.

“We are committed to the all-round development of MSMEs. Technical exposure visits like these promote innovation and help build sustainable industry linkages,” said Praful Gandhi, Secretary of MANTRA.