PM Modi shares Textiles Minister’s article on technical textiles' role in footwear sector

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday shared an article by the country’s Textiles Minister Giriraj Singh, highlighting the role and integration of technical textiles within the footwear industry.

The Prime Minister noted that the article brings out a simple but powerful insight: technical textiles in footwear are not merely an emerging concept but are already deeply embedded in the industry.

The Prime Minister posted on X:

“In this article, Union Minister Shri @girirajsinghbjp brings out a simple but powerful insight that technical textiles in footwear are not an emerging concept but are already embedded in the industry. He emphasises that the task ahead is to recognise, organise and scale this integration, bringing the footwear sector more explicitly within the technical textiles ecosystem.”

Earlier, India’s Minister of Textiles Giriraj Singh shared his article on X. He remarked that technical textiles are rapidly emerging as critical enablers of the growth of India’s footwear sector, driving innovation, improving performance standards, and strengthening exports.

The Minister stated:

“We must unlock the footwear sector's hidden potential and scale it globally through structured growth where Technical Textiles will play a big role. Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India’s strong manufacturing base and skilled workforce, combined with the blend of innovation and sustainability, will propel the nation to the forefront of the global value chain.”

In his article, Union Minister Giriraj Singh stated that consumers are moving towards footwear that delivers more comfort and performance, which is where technical textiles play a defining role. Singh underlined that bringing the footwear sector more explicitly within the technical textiles ecosystem can drive innovation, increase exports, and create high-quality employment.

“When we speak of an Aatmanirbhar Bharat (Self-reliant India), we are not just speaking of self-reliance in production but of leadership in global value chains. Few sectors capture this opportunity as clearly as footwear. Despite being the world’s second-largest producer, India holds only a marginal share in global footwear exports,” Singh points out.

“The gap is not due to lack of capacity but due to the need for a shift towards materials design and performance. At the centre of this shift lies a category that often goes unnoticed: technical textiles,” the Minister added.

Referring to a recent visit to Agra, the Minister said manufacturing units there are using materials that improve comfort, durability, and flexibility. “Yet many of them did not describe these as technical textiles; they simply saw them as better inputs that met evolving consumer needs,” he added.

Following a recent meeting with footwear industry stakeholders in Delhi, Singh noted that industry leaders spoke about changing expectations for lighter shoes, better cushioning, and improved breathability. “It was in this discussion that the Textiles Department highlighted a critical point: the footwear industry is already using technical textiles extensively, even without formally recognising it.”

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