Surat Eyes Sportech Boost Ahead of 2036 Olympics

SURAT: As Gujarat steps up preparations for hosting major global sporting events, including the proposed Commonwealth Games 2030 and Olympic Games 2036, Surat’s textile industry is looking to position itself as a key manufacturing hub for the next generation of high-performance sports textiles.

A high-level delegation from the Man-made Textiles Research Association (MANTRA) and Palsana Enviro Protection Limited (PEPL), along with textile entrepreneurs and industry stakeholders from Surat, recently visited the Centre of Excellence for Sportech at the Wool Research Association (WRA) in Thane.

The delegation was led by Dr Hitesh Jariwala, Deputy Director, MANTRA, and Dr S.K. Pal, Executive, Testing Department, MANTRA. An eight-member PEPL team was represented by Keshav Totla.

The visit was suggested by Bhaskar Kalra, Under Secretary, Ministry of Textiles, to provide MANTRA and Surat’s textile sector first-hand exposure to advanced Sportech facilities, product development capabilities and testing infrastructure.

During the visit, the delegation toured WRA’s laboratories and pilot plant facilities, examining specialised testing for Sportech products, product development processes, certification and quality-compliance systems and international standards for technical textiles.

The interaction assumed greater significance as Surat is India’s leading hub for man-made fibre textiles.

“Establishing a strong Sportech ecosystem in Surat can open significant opportunities for indigenous manufacturing, research and development, and local supply-chain creation,” industry representatives said.

The participating organisations also discussed the growing potential for Surat manufacturers to develop high-performance fabrics and technical textile products for sports and allied applications.

As a follow-up, MANTRA and WRA are planning to formalise their cooperation through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The organisations have also agreed to jointly organise a Technical Forum in Surat to familiarise manufacturers with Sportech applications, performance requirements and emerging business opportunities in man-made fabrics.

The initiative could provide Surat’s textile manufacturers with an opportunity to diversify beyond conventional apparel and fabrics and enter the high-value technical textile segment.

MANTRA and PEPL also expressed their appreciation to Dr Mrinal Choudhari, Additional Director, WRA, and her team for facilitating the visit and sharing their expertise.