[26 April 2024, New Delhi] Since the signing of the EFTA agreement by India, CITI has been working on strategies to promote business collaborations between India and Switzerland, an important textile trade partner for India. Under a partnership agreement, CITI has been working closely with the National Textile Association of Switzerland for greater engagement.

In this context, the Confederation of Indian Textile Industry (CITI) mounted a delegation to Techtextil 2024, the premier international trade fair for technical textiles and nonwovens, held in Germany from April 23 to 26, 2024. Led by Dr. S.K. Sundararaman, the CITI
delegation actively participated in a series of engagements, especially with Textile companies and associations of Switzerland aimed at fostering collaboration and advancing the global textile industry.

A B2B meeting was organized on the sidelines of Techtextil for CITI members to delve into the full spectrum of technical textiles, nonwovens, functional apparel textiles, and textile technologies. It served as a hub for exploration, knowledge exchange, and the formation of strategic partnerships.

The B2B interactions and tour of the Swiss Textiles booth, facilitates by Chairman of Swiss Textiles offered insights into the latest innovations and developments in the textile industry, fostering networking and knowledge-sharing opportunities among industry leaders.

The CITI delegation was the first of many such engagement programs planned for enhancing strategic partnership between the members of Confederation of Indian Textile Industry and Swiss Textiles towards their shared commitment to advancing the textile sector.
The partnership between CITI and Swiss Textiles was formalized through a Joint Declaration signed on November 23, 2023, during the 19th Joint Economic Commission (JEC) between India and Switzerland. This declaration underscores the dedication of both parties to
fostering collaboration and enhancing trade relations, marking a significant milestone in the textile industry.

Mr. Dinesh Nolkha, Vice Chairman of CITI, played a pivotal role in the JEC session, articulating the strategic objectives of the Joint Declaration and outlining plans for deeper engagement with the Swiss Textile Industry. The participation of CITI members in Techtextil 2024 reaffirms the organization’s

commitment to leveraging international platforms for driving innovation, collaboration, and growth within the global textile industry.