Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has approached the Centre with a series of proposals aimed at strengthening the state’s textile sector, including the establishment of a National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) campus in Amaravati and a PM Mega Integrated Textile Region and Apparel (PM MITRA) Park in Chittoor district.
The proposals were submitted during a meeting with Union Textiles Minister Giriraj Singh at the Andhra Pradesh Secretariat. According to a statement issued by the Chief Minister’s Office, the initiatives are intended to support textile manufacturing, handloom development and fibre-based industries across the state.
Naidu requested the Centre to set up a NIFT campus in Amaravati and a PM MITRA Park in Kuppam. He cited the region’s proximity to textile clusters in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka as a strategic advantage. The Chief Minister also pointed to the presence of around 35,000 power looms and more than 100 spinning mills in the region.
He further sought the release of Rs. 280 crore (US $29.47 million) for the proposed NIFT campus, stating that the state government has already allocated 10 acres of land for the institution.
Among the additional proposals submitted were plans for Integrated Wet Processing Parks in textile clusters, priority-state recognition for Andhra Pradesh under the National New Age Fibre Mission, a dedicated handloom park in Mangalagiri and a Handloom and Handicrafts Museum in Amaravati.
Highlighting opportunities in natural fibre production, Naidu urged support for fibre-based industries connected to horticultural crops. He proposed greater commercial utilisation of fibre, coir and other natural fibres sourced from crops cultivated in the Rayalaseema and Coastal Andhra regions.
The proposals also included banana stem fibre extraction centres in key banana-growing districts such as Kadapa, Anantapur, Nandyal, West Godavari, Krishna and East Godavari. Support was also sought for cluster-based mechanical decorticator units to be operated through Self-Help Groups (SHGs).
Naidu noted that banana cultivation spans nearly 1.3 lakh hectares in Andhra Pradesh and said fibre extracted from post-harvest stems could be used in textiles, handicrafts, geotextiles, speciality paper and export-oriented garments.
The Chief Minister additionally proposed the establishment of bamboo fibre-processing units under public-private partnership models, stating that such initiatives could create income opportunities for tribal and upland farming communities.
Responding to the proposals, Singh assured the state government of the Centre’s cooperation in advancing the initiatives. The Union Textiles Minister said efforts would be made to develop Andhra Pradesh into a major textile manufacturing hub.