Surat: Expressing concerns over the potential impact of the Quality Control Order (QCO) on the growth and innovation within the textile industry, the Southern Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SGCCI) has formally requested the Central Government to exempt textile machinery from the QCO mandate.

The appeal was made by SGCCI Vice President Ashok Jirawala and former President Ashish Gujarati during a high-level meeting in New Delhi with Union Minister for Heavy Industries H.D. Kumaraswamy and Joint Secretary Vijay Mittal.

SGCCI highlighted that India’s textile industry, currently valued at US $165 billion, is projected to grow to US $350 billion by 2030. Achieving this target would require around 4.5 lakh high-speed weaving machines, necessitating an estimated investment of US $15 billion. A list of essential machines not manufactured in India but required for import was also submitted to the minister.

It is learnt representatives from major industry bodies including FICCI, ASSOCHAM, the Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), and Arvind Mills were also present and collectively supported the call to scrap the QCO for textile machinery.

Ashok Jirawala noted that embroidery technology evolves rapidly, often requiring equipment upgrades every two to three years. Since many of these advanced machines are not produced domestically, Indian entrepreneurs heavily depend on imports. The SGCCI emphasized that embroidery machines should be excluded from the QCO to ensure uninterrupted access to updated technology.

GCCI officials further informed the minister that several entrepreneurs have already placed orders for overseas machinery and opened Letters of Credit (LCs). If deliveries are made after August 28, 2025, while the QCO remains in effect, the equipment may be held up at ports, leading to significant financial losses. They also warned that such regulatory uncertainty could discourage banks from financing similar ventures, potentially stalling industry growth.

Following the presentation, both Minister Kumaraswamy and Joint Secretary Mittal responded positively and assured the delegation that the concerns of stakeholders would be taken into serious consideration. The Ministry of Textiles, they added, would consult with all relevant parties before arriving at a final decision.

Industry stakeholders believe that addressing this issue could be a game-changer for Surat and the broader Indian textile sector, helping accelerate innovation and improve manufacturing efficiency nationwide. DeshGujarat