OCTOBER, 20258TOP STORIESTOP STORIESINDIA, SAUDI ARABIA TO BOOST TEXTILE TRADE, INVESTMENTPM LAUNCHES 13,430 CRORE PROJECTS IN KURNOOL, ANDHRA PRADESHIndia and Saudi Arabia Tuesday discussed strategies to expand production capacities and market reach through collaborative efforts in textile manufacturing and trade, the textiles ministry said in a statement.They also identified ready made garments, technical textiles, man-made fibres, carpet, handloom, and handicrafts as key areas for collaboration. The issues were discussed in a meeting between Khalil ibn Salamah, Saudi Arabia's vice minister of industry and mineral resources with textile secretary Neelam Shami Rao. India was the second-largest supplier ($517.5 million) to Saudi Arabia's textile and apparel sector, capturing an 11.2 percent share of Riyadh's total textile and apparel imports in 2024."Discussions also emphasized the importance of promoting sustainability across traditional sectors such as handloom, handicrafts, and carpets.These sectors not only represent India's rich cultural and artisanal heritage but also resonate with global consumer preferences for eco-friendly and ethically produced goods," the ministry said.The dialogue highlighted significant opportunities for Saudi investment in India's Ready-Made Garments sector a key area for employment generation and exports. With a shared vision for mutual growth, both parties discussed strategies to expand production capacities and market reach through collaborative efforts in textile manufacturing and trade.A key highlight of the meeting was the mutual recognition of Saudi Arabia's strength in petrochemical-based industries and India's expanding capabilities in Man-Made Fibre and Technical Textiles. These segments are poised to become pillars of bilateral trade, offering opportunities to leverage synergies in raw material sourcing, technology exchange, and product development. During his address, the Prime Minister spoke of the rich cultural past of Andhra Pradesh and its great potential in the fields of technology, energy, and innovation.He praised visionary state leadership and assured the central government's support for quick development of the region, which is in line with India's ambition to become a developed country by 2047.As part of the Prime Minister's initiative in the energy sector, he opened the Srikakulam­Angul Natural Gas Pipeline along with an LPG bottling plant in Chittoor region. This will lead to a secure energy supply and household accessibility.Among the infrastructure projects are a six-lane Greenfield highway from Sabbavaram to Sheelanagar, road-extension projects all over the state, and new railway lines and flyovers to facilitate connectivity and trade.The local economy has been further energized by the creation of the Orvakal and Kopparthy Industrial Areas where the government has set up plug-and-play infrastructure to attract investment and create jobs.To meet the requirements of defence manufacturing, the Prime Minister unveiled the Advanced Night Vision Products Factory at Nimmaluru, which was equipped to manufacture electro-optical systems, thus, helping the country to be more self-reliant. With an investment of nearly 13,430 crore, Prime Minister Narendra Modi committed to the construction of the various projects, officially opened, and devoted to the people in Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh.The projects, which revolved around the core areas of industry, energy, infrastructure, defence, and petroleum, were intended to promote the regional economy, industrialisation, and job creation.
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