Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, on Tuesday, asserted that Uttar Pradesh and India at large, have both the potential and resources to compete with the major global players in readymade garments industry.
Inaugurating the Silk Expo at the Indira Gandhi Pratishthan, the chief minister said, “Small nations worldwide have established a strong presence in the readymade garment industry, even with limited resources and opportunities. We, on the other hand, have both the potential and resources.”
The Silk Expo will conclude on October 28.
“If a significant portion of the workforce, especially women, is engaged in silk production, processing, readymade garments, designing, marketing and packaging, Uttar Pradesh and India can emerge as global leaders in the garment industry,” he said.
Yogi Adityanath highlighted a remarkable achievement in silk production, which has increased 84-fold under the current administration. “A day will come when Uttar Pradesh will be recognised among the top states in the country for silk production,” he added.
The chief minister highlighted that since the Bharatiya Janata Party came to power in Uttar Pradesh in 2017, the state has taken significant steps to promote traditional products.
The state became the first in India to implement a dedicated policy for traditional crafts, identifying a unique product for each of its 75 districts under the One District, One Product (ODOP) initiative. By linking
ODOP with market access, design and packaging, the initiative has not only created employment, but also boosted the export of traditional goods. Today, all 75 districts have distinct GI-tagged products recognised across the country, he pointed out.
The chief minister emphasised the potential for further growth, particularly through the famous sarees of Varanasi, Bhadohi and Mubarakpur. He encouraged efforts to make the Silk Expo a platform for advancing Uttar Pradesh’s prospects in this sector.
Referring to the age-old slogan of ‘roti, kapda aur makaan’ (food, clothing and shelter), Chief Minister Yogi stressed that while air and water are essential for life, the need for food, clothing and shelter is equally fundamental.
He noted that clothing not only meets a basic need but also serves as a vital means to boost the income of farmers and generate employment. Uttar Pradesh, with its population of 25 crores, has a vast potential in silk production, and while progress has been made in recent years, much more remains to be achieved to match the state’s immense possibilities, he added.
The chief minister urged people to explore the vast potential for development within Uttar Pradesh. He pointed out that places like Varanasi, Bhadohi and Azamgarh, known for their silk sarees such as those from Mubarakpur, hold significant promise.
“The Central and state governments are making concerted efforts to develop silk clusters in these regions. Varanasi silk sarees, a popular choice for auspicious occasions nationwide, have seen increased demand following the expansion of Kashi Vishwanath Dham, which has attracted more devotees and tourists. The establishment of a Trade Facilitation Centre at the Varanasi Expo Mart has further boosted this traditional industry,” Chief Minister Yogi asserted.
He highlighted the progress of entrepreneurs associated with the saree industry in Mubarakpur and the silk clusters in Mirzapur, Varanasi and Bhadohi, indicating that the sector has considerable growth potential.
However, the chief minister emphasised the need for local raw material production to support these initiatives. He encouraged farmers to participate, noting that the Central government offers several schemes for their benefit.
Furthermore, he called on the relevant departments to organise symposiums, seminars and outreach programmes in every district to inform progressive farmers about these schemes and connect them with training and processing programmes.
This initiative aims to enhance opportunities, not just in the Gorakhpur division but also in Varanasi, Mirzapur, Lucknow, Devipatan, Basti and Azamgarh.
He emphasised the importance of locally linking silk production and processing with the textile industry to ensure affordable raw materials, which would naturally lower costs and make products more accessible to meet market demand. The government, he assured, will support training initiatives and assist in raw material procurement, processing, marketing and design.
The chief minister pointed out that farmers and entrepreneurs in Uttar Pradesh have long been connected to traditional crafts, but faced setbacks due to the neglect of previous governments, which failed to provide proper incentives, design support and packaging for their products. This challenge extended beyond silk to all traditional industries, he added.
Today, the state showcases a variety of unique products: Bhadohi’s carpets, Gorakhpur’s terracotta, Varanasi’s numerous GI-tagged items, leather goods from Agra and Kanpur, Moradabad’s brassware,
Firozabad’s glass, and sports equipment from Meerut. These products represent Uttar Pradesh’s rich heritage and provide a platform for youth and entrepreneurs to advance through traditional industries, he pointed out.
The chief minister called for a rapid expansion of silk clusters in regions with the potential, urging the departments concerned to collaborate with farmers who could act as ‘silk friends’, helping to realise this potential and position Uttar Pradesh as a strong competitor among other states.
