Andhra Pradesh Handlooms Minister S. Savitha Holds High-Level Talks with Artisans and Textile Industry Leaders

New Delhi: Andhra Pradesh Minister for Handlooms and Textiles S. Savitha held a series of high-level interactions with artisans, National Award-winning craftsmen, and leading textile industry representatives during Bharat Tex 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. The meetings focused on enhancing global market opportunities for Andhra Pradesh's handloom and handicraft sectors while promoting sustainable growth and employment generation.

The Minister was accompanied by Commissioner of Handlooms & Textiles G. Rekha Rani, Dr. Pasupuleti Hari Prasad, Chairman of the Andhra Pradesh State Handicrafts Development Corporation (APHDCL–LEP), and officials from the Andhra Pradesh State Handloom Weavers Cooperative Society (APCO). The delegation participated in strategic discussions with leading textile stakeholders, including Sanjay Jain, Chairman of the ICC National Textile Committee.

National Awardee Gaurav Mandal also shared his valuable inputs with the Minister, emphasizing the need to strengthen artisan ecosystems, encourage innovation, and create wider domestic and international market opportunities for traditional crafts. Ms. Sundeepa Mandal, a prominent representative from the textile industry, was also part of the high-level talks, offering insights on industry collaboration, value-added manufacturing, and expanding the global reach of Indian textiles.

During the discussions, Dr. Pasupuleti Hari Prasad highlighted the importance of strengthening the handicrafts sector through enhanced market linkages, design innovation, artisan empowerment, and greater participation in national and international trade platforms. He reaffirmed APHDCL's commitment to working closely with the State Government to promote Andhra Pradesh's rich craft heritage and create sustainable livelihood opportunities for artisans.

The deliberations centered on expanding international market access for Andhra Pradesh's traditional products, increasing exports, encouraging value-added manufacturing, and creating year-round employment opportunities for handloom weavers and artisans.

Minister Savitha reiterated the State Government's commitment to strengthening the handloom and handicraft ecosystem through greater participation in national and international exhibitions, enabling artisans to showcase their products to a wider audience and improve market reach.

The meetings also explored opportunities for collaboration with industry bodies to attract investments, promote innovation, and generate employment across the textile value chain in Andhra Pradesh.

A key focus was preserving the state's rich handloom and handicraft heritage while integrating contemporary designs and modern production techniques. The Minister stressed the importance of supporting artisans in developing products that meet evolving global consumer preferences without compromising the authenticity of Andhra Pradesh's traditional and GI-tagged crafts.

The Andhra Pradesh pavilion at Bharat Tex 2026 continues to serve as a platform for showcasing the state's diverse textile heritage, craftsmanship, and investment potential, reinforcing the government's vision of transforming the handloom and textile sector into a globally competitive and sustainable industry.