ATDC Faridabad unveils first-ever knitwear training centre

The AEPC-ATDC Bhawan and new concept – Knitwear Specialty Centre launched is a speaking example of ATDC’s commitment of being ‘Of the Industry’, ‘By the Industry’ and ‘For the Industry’. 

The Union Minister of Textiles took keen interest in viewing the sewing technologies for woven & knit training programmes on display at the centre and appreciated the efforts of Apparel Training & Design Centre (ATDC) for playing a key role for development of this sector.

Acknowledging the presence of domestic & export apparel manufacturing clusters in Faridabad, notching up around Rs. 3000 Cr. exports, he emphasized the need for product diversification and skill development in the sector which at present lacks supply of skilled hands.

While inaugurating the Centre, Dr. K.S. Rao, the  Minster of Textiles, Government of India, said, “The ATDC facilities created at Faridabad  for short term & long-term training programmes and setting-up of the ATDC Knitwear Specialty Training Centre and the Textile Testing Lab right in the heart of the Faridabad Industrial hub is a very the timely and significant step and will go a long way in improving the quality of training programmes along with helping this robust cluster in future strategies and growth.

The AEPC-ATDC ‘SMART Bhawan’ situated amidst a cluster of Apparel Export Units in Faridabad, which alone boast of Rs 3,000 Crore worth ‘Apparel export’ potential has over 50 apparel export units and 30 fabric processing units employing over 60,000 people in the cluster. The Faridabad Apparel cluster holds a key importance in the Apparel industry in Northern India.

In his keynote address, Dr. A. Sakthivel, Chairman, AEPC, ATDC & IAM, said “I am happy to point out that at the AEPC-ATDC SMART Bhawan, India’s 1st Knitwear Specialty Training Centre and 1st ATDC Textile Testing Lab in the NCR are being launched and this will serve the youth by giving them access to newly approved NCVT Curricula and state-of-the-art training infrastructure while extending services to the nearby apparel industry cluster.”

Following the inauguration of the Centre, the introduction of National Council for Vocational Training (NCVT) approved course curricula for knitwear course, trainers’ manual and trainers’ handbook was released by Ms. Zohra Chatterji, IAS, Secretary, Ministry of Textile, GoI.

The Secretary (Textiles) observed “India’s Knitwear export market is growing rapidly as the Knitwear production comprises of about 45% of the total exported volume of apparel. With around 5000 knitwear factories already set-up in India and many more foraying into knitwear production numerous skilled hands will be required.  In this regard, ATDC has taken timely steps to launch NCVT approved Knitwear Courses, Trainers’ manual and Trainees’ handbook which will set a new direction and help apparel exporters with Industry ready workforce.”