Union Minister Giriraj Singh participated in the Bihar Business Connect 2024 – Textile Investor Meet held in Patna on July 19. Organized by the Bihar government, the event aimed to showcase the state’s potential in the textile sector and attract new investors.
During the meet, Minister Singh praised Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Industries Minister Nitish Mishra for their efforts in organizing the event. He emphasized the employment potential of the garment industry, noting that an investment of Rs 1 crore could generate jobs for 50-70 people.
Minister Singh also highlighted recent developments in Bihar’s textile sector, including exports from Betiya and the establishment of an industrial hub in Muzaffarpur that employs 10,000 people. He stressed the government’s support for investors and encouraged the use of green energy, aligning with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2030.
Key government officials, including Sandeep Poundrik, Additional Chief Secretary of Industries, Rachna Shah, Secretary of the Ministry of Textiles, and Brijesh Mehrotra, Chief Secretary of Bihar, also addressed the event. Deputy Chief Ministers Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha were in attendance.
The Bihar Business Connect 2024 event is part of the state government’s efforts to position Bihar as a major manufacturing and export hub for the textile industry, aiming to increase employment opportunities and foster economic growth.
Union Textiles Minister Giriraj Singh reiterated the Bihar government’s goal to develop its textile industry to boost the state’s economy and create jobs. Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the meet, Singh highlighted Bihar’s potential to generate significant employment in the sector. “The textile industry has immense potential to create jobs in the country after agriculture,” he said.
Singh noted that women form 70 percent of the workforce in the sector and pointed to the 1.5 crore ‘Jeevika Didis’ associated with self-help groups in Bihar as a key growth engine for the textile industry. He announced plans for a national-level handloom expo in the state in October and expressed commitment to promoting Bhagalpuri silk, with plans to establish a regional office to support the sector.
Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha emphasized the state government’s efforts to provide opportunities for investors. State Industries Minister Nitish Mishra highlighted Bihar’s favorable business environment, aiming to showcase the state’s potential in the textile sector, attract investments, and create employment opportunities.
Union Textiles Secretary Rachna Shah pointed out that while India is a top producer of textiles and apparel, Bihar is well-positioned to lead the sector due to its skilled workforce, ample raw materials, and supportive industrial policies.
The meet attracted over 100 participants from the textile industry, with 22 expressing their intention to invest in the state, according to an official statement.
Bihar’s Textile Policy was lauded by garment industry leaders at the Patna meet. Representatives from major companies like Trendsetter International, Richa Global, and Shahi Exports expressed interest in investing in Bihar. Union Textiles Minister Giriraj Singh underscored Bihar’s potential for ready-made garment (RMG) manufacturing, urging companies to consider Bihar as a key location for textile production.
Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha and Industry Minister Nitish Mishra echoed this call, emphasizing Bihar’s attractive incentives and efficient local workforce. They welcomed entrepreneurs eager to invest in the state.
AEPC Chairman Sudhir Sekhri shared impressive statistics, noting that Bihar’s garment exports grew by 58.6 percent in 2023-24, while India’s overall garment exports declined by 10.2 percent. He encouraged industrialists to take advantage of Bihar’s supportive business environment and stressed the importance of timely subsidies and clearances for smooth operations.
Sekhri also mentioned that the apparel sector across the country employs a large number of skilled and semi-skilled workers from Bihar, suggesting that the local availability of these workers will reduce manufacturing costs.
