India has expanded its cooperation with Georgia in textiles, sericulture and trade following a five-day official visit by a delegation from the Ministry of Textiles. The team, led by P. Sivakumar, Member Secretary of the Central Silk Board (CSB) and Secretary General of the International Sericultural Commission (ISC), visited Georgia from 17 to 21 November to explore opportunities for deeper collaboration across the textile, apparel and carpet sectors.
According to the Ministry of Textiles, the delegation participated in the 11th BACSA International Conference – CULTUSERI 2025, where Sivakumar delivered the opening address on behalf of India and the ISC. He spoke about India’s long-standing expertise in traditional silk practices and its influence on creative and cultural industries. He also presented a paper titled The Chronicles of Wild Silk, outlining India’s contributions to global sericulture.
S. Manthira Moorthy, Director (Technical) at the CSB, presented work undertaken jointly by Indian and Bulgarian researchers. His session focused on the development of a productive bivoltine silkworm hybrid adapted to Indian conditions, demonstrating ongoing international collaboration in silk science.
A key feature of the visit was the presentation of India’s ‘5-in-1 Silk Stole’, combining Mulberry, Oak Tasar, Tropical Tasar, Muga and Eri silks in a single product. Conceived under an initiative led by Sivakumar, the stole highlights India’s diverse silk traditions and its potential in premium handmade product segments.
During the visit, the Indian delegation met senior Georgian government officials and representatives from universities, sericulture laboratories, research centres, textile manufacturers, carpet traders and the Georgian Chamber of Commerce & Industry (GCCI). Discussions centred on strengthening bilateral trade, improving market access and promoting joint research in sericulture and textiles.
The Ministry of Textiles stated that the visit resulted in renewed cooperation between India and Georgia in textile research and trade, identification of opportunities for joint ventures in apparel and carpets, and the creation of pathways for institutional and technical partnerships. India’s engagement through the BACSA platform further underscored its role in global sericulture and textile innovation.
