New Delhi, 1 September 2024: The Confederation of Indian Textile Industry (CITI) proudly celebrated a significant milestone with the inauguration of its Management Development Program on Environmental, Social, and Governance (MDP-ESG) from August 29 to 31, 2024, at the Bombay Textile Research Association (BTRA) in Mumbai. This groundbreaking three-day program was designed to empower textile and apparel industry managers with the essential knowledge and skills to excel in the evolving landscape of ESG regulations and sustainability practices.

The ceremony was highlighted by the presence of Ms. Roop Rashi, the Textile Commissioner, who delivered a compelling keynote address. She praised CITI’s forward-thinking initiative and urged collaborative efforts to streamline compliance reporting for MSMEs, emphasizing the importance of avoiding financial strain while adhering to crucial regulations.

CITI Secretary General, Ms. Chandrima Chatterjee, opened the event with inspiring remarks, showcasing the program’s notable achievements. CITI Chairman, Shri Rakesh Mehra, echoed the importance of sustainability in overcoming both global and national compliance hurdles, underscoring its vital role in the industry’s future.

The inaugural session saw the participation of eminent personalities including Shri Sunil Patwari, Chairman of TEXPROCIL, Shri Anjani Prasad, MD of Archrom, Dr. Siddhartha Rajagopalan, ED of TEXPROCIL, and Dr. T.V. Sreekumar, Director of BTRA, adding depth and prestige to the proceedings.

The MDP-ESG program featured an array of technical sessions that covered:

Environmental Sustainability: Focused on ESG integration, water management, circular economy, chemical compliance, and life cycle assessment.

Advanced Governance Topics: Including stakeholder engagement, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), and comparative ESG practices between India and Australia.

Human Rights and Responsible Conduct: Addressing human rights issues in the textile sector, practical group activities on risk assessment, and stakeholder engagement.

The event culminated with a vibrant certificate distribution ceremony, celebrating the achievements of the inaugural batch. Attendees were further enlightened by insights from distinguished Subject Matter Experts, such as Ms. Sudipta Bhadra, Chief Technical Advisor at ILO, and other industry leaders.

As CITI looks ahead, the organization is excited to announce the next chapter of the MDP-ESG program, scheduled to take place in Bangalore, reinforcing its unwavering commitment to advancing sustainability within the textile industry.