Giriraj Singh Takes Charge as Union Textiles Minister: A New Era for Indian Textiles

Senior Bihar BJP MP Giriraj Singh, who retained the Begusarai Lok Sabha seat, has assumed charge as Union Textiles Minister. Singh replaces Piyush Goyal and aims to revive the textile sector's exports. The industry, crucial for job creation and global trade, faces a decline in export performance.

Senior Bihar BJP MP Giriraj Singh, known for retaining the Begusarai Lok Sabha seat, officially took the helm as Union Textiles Minister in the newly formed Modi government on Tuesday.

Singh succeeds Piyush Goyal, who remains with the Commerce and Industry Ministry post his North Mumbai Lok Sabha seat victory.

Singh's tenure arrives at a pivotal moment, as the textile sector grapples with a 3.24 per cent de-growth in exports, dropping to USD 34.4 billion in 2023-24 from the previous USD 35.5 billion in FY23. The sector had previously seen outward shipments exceeding USD 41 billion in 2021-22.

'The country's textile sector has maximum job creation potential and a significant share in global exports,' Singh stated while addressing the media. He affirmed his commitment to meeting the nation's aspirations under Prime Minister Modi's guidance, emphasizing the sector's critical role in employment and economic growth.

Emphasizing his political journey, Singh retained the Begusarai Lok Sabha seat with a narrower margin of over 81,480 votes. He switched to Begusarai in 2019, leaving his Nawada seat, and won against CPI candidate Kanhaiya Kumar by over 4 lakh votes. In the recent election, he defeated CPI's Abdhesh Kumar Roy by garnering 6.49 lakh votes.

Previously having served in various ministerial roles, including as cabinet minister of the Ministry of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries, and later the rural development ministry, Singh now takes on the textiles portfolio.

India's textile industry employs around 45 million workers, including 3.5 million in handlooms, making it the world's second-largest producer of textiles and garments. It is the sixth-largest exporter in the field, contributing 4 per cent to global textiles and apparel trade, 2.3 per cent to GDP, 13 per cent to industrial production, and 12 per cent to exports.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)