Fashion
Ashwin Chandran takes charge as new CITI chairman
Ashwin Chandran has taken over as the new chairman of the Confederation of Indian Textile Industry (CITI) starting September 18, 2025. Chandran takes over the chairmanship from Rakesh Mehra whose term ended on September 18 following the conclusion of CITI’s 67th AGM which was held during the day.
Dinesh Nolkha would become the new deputy chairman of CITI and Shreyaskar Chaudhary will take over as the new vice chairman of CITI.
A distinguished textile industry leader, Chandran is chairman & managing director of Precot Limited, one of the leading cotton mills in India which operates units in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. A former chairman of the Southern India Mills Association (SIMA), he is also a member of the Cotton Textiles Export Promotion Council (TEXPROCIL). Chandran holds a BSc (Hons) degree in Textile Technology of UMIST, UK, and, also, a Post Graduate degree in Management from the University of Illinois, US.
An eminent presence in the textile sector, Nolkha is chairman & managing director of the Bhilwara-based Nitin Spinners Ltd, one of the leading manufacturers of cotton yarn, blended yarn, knitted fabrics and finished woven fabrics. Nolkha is a former president of the Mewar Chamber of Commerce and Industry and has also been chairman of the Northern India Textile Research Association (NITRA). Nolkha is a Fellow Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India and The Institute of Cost & Management Accountants of India.
A noted personality in the sphere of sustainability, Chaudhary is managing director of the Madhya Pradesh-based Pratibha Syntex Limited which is committed to transforming the textile industry through innovation, ethical practices, and a strong focus on environmental stewardship. Pratibha Syntex is India’s first Apparel Manufacturing Fair Trade Certified factory. The company is also India’s first ZDHC Certified Apparel Manufacturer. Chaudhary has a background in Textile Technology from UMIST, UK.
Underlining the priorities of his CITI Chairmanship, Ashwin Chandran said there was an immediate priority and a longer-term one.
The new CITI chairman said the pressing priority was to work closely with all stakeholders, including the government, to address the grave challenge which has been posed to the Indian textile and apparel sector through the United States (the single-largest market for India’s textile and apparel exports) imposing a 50 per cent tariff on Indian products with effect from August 27, 2025.
The longer-term focus would be on futureproofing India’s textile and apparel sector – the bulk of which is made up of MSMEs – to improve the global competitiveness of local textile and apparel companies. Greater emphasis would be laid on innovation, sustainability, capacity building (including through skill development), and knowledge sharing so that Indian textile and apparel enterprises can grow the size of their businesses both within India and overseas, and get to a position where they can derive the fullest benefits from the free trade agreements (FTAs) already signed by India and those on the anvil.
“CITI remains fully committed to be an important contributor to the Viksit Bharat mission,” Chandran said in a release.
India aims to create a $250 billion domestic textile industry by 2030. The country is also aspiring to more than double textile and apparel exports to $100 billion by 2030.
Ashwin Chandran, CMD of Precot Ltd, has taken over as chairman of CITI from Rakesh Mehra at its 67th AGM.
Dinesh Nolkha (Nitin Spinners) becomes deputy chairman and Shreyaskar Chaudhary (Pratibha Syntex) vice chairman.
Chandran’s priorities include tackling the US 50 per cent tariff on Indian textiles and driving long-term competitiveness through innovation and sustainability.
Fibre2Fashion News Desk (HU)
With sustainability benchmarks rising, companies are rethinking how they produce and deliver, pivoting toward greener, more circular models that reduce waste, emissions, and resource use.
The stakes are high. In 2025, Vietnam’s exports to the EU reportedly reached $56.2 billion, up 10.1 per cent year on year, underscoring how pivotal Europe is for the country’s manufacturing base.
Vietnam’s textile and footwear exporters are accelerating sustainability efforts as stricter EU regulations reshape market access requirements.
Rising compliance pressure from measures such as CBAM and ESPR is pushing manufacturers toward circular production, cleaner technologies and greater supply-chain transparency, though limited green finance remains a major challenge for smaller firms.
The EU market, nevertheless, comes with its own challenges as access to this market increasingly depends on meeting strict environmental and product-design requirements.
The EU is rolling out an ambitious sustainability agenda, including the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) and the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR). Together, these measures are changing what global suppliers must document, design, and decarbonise.
ESPR shifts expectations toward durability, repairability, and recyclability, while pushing manufacturers to reduce products’ overall environmental footprint. Supply chains are also expected to become more transparent through Digital Product Passports, and practices such as destroying unsold goods being phased out gradually.
For Vietnam’s exporters, compliance is becoming a baseline requirement to keep EU orders and remain competitive.
Recognising this, both the Government and industry players are stepping up. Vietnam’s long-term development strategy for textiles and footwear, which stretches to 2030 with a vision toward 2035, places sustainability at its core. The plan charts a path toward efficient, environmentally responsible growth anchored in a circular economy, where materials are reused, waste is minimised, and production cycles are closed rather than linear.
Crucially, it also provides a legal backbone to help businesses align with global sustainability trends.
On the ground, change is already underway. Textile and apparel manufacturers are investing in renewable energy, upgrading machinery, and fine-tuning production processes to cut emissions and resource use. These shifts are not just about compliance; they are about future-proofing operations in a market where green credentials increasingly determine who wins contracts.
However, the transition has not been entirely seamless. A key barrier seems to be access to green finance, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises. Large firms can more readily fund clean technologies and certification, while smaller suppliers often struggle to fund the shift, risking exclusion from high-value export markets if they cannot keep pace.
There is also a growing recognition that policy support needs to go further. As Vietnam leans into a circular economy, industry voices are calling for a more cohesive and comprehensive framework, one that not only sets clear standards for circular products but also actively incentivises recycling, cleaner production, and sustainable innovation.
Without this, progress risks being uneven, with smaller firms left behind.
Momentum is, nevertheless, building as manufacturers and policymakers push for better-aligned standards and support mechanisms. The goal is to narrow the gap between sustainability ambition and day-to-day implementation across the sector.
The aim is clear: create an ecosystem where businesses of all sizes can invest in circular solutions, strengthen their export capabilities, and meet the EU’s exacting standards head-on.
Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DR)
The increase was driven primarily by higher reinvested earnings and intra-company loans, indicating continued engagement by existing investors with Bangladesh.
Reinvested earnings rose by 318.25 per cent, from $103.79 million in 2024 to $434.10 million in 2025, while intra-company loans increased by 25.68 per cent, from $621.96 million to $781.68 million.
Bangladesh’s net FDI inflows increased by 39.36 per cent last year to $1,770.42 million compared with $1,270.39 million in 2024, the Bangladesh Bank said.
The increase was driven primarily by higher reinvested earnings and intra-company loans.
Reinvested earnings rose by 318.25 per cent, from $103.79 million in 2024 to $434.10 million in 2025, while intra-company loans rose by 25.68 per cent.
Equity capital remained broadly stable, rising by 1.84 per cent, from $544.64 million to $554.64 million in 2025, a release from Bangladesh Investment Development Authority said.
Greenfield project announcements declined by 16 per cent in 2025.
Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)
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