Lucknow, Oct 22 (Reporter) Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday said UP, and India at large, have both potential and resources to compete with the major global players in readymade garments industry. Inaugurating the Silk Expo at the Indira Gandhi Pratishthan, which will continue till October 28, the CM 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 potential and resources." He said, "If a significant portion of the workforce, especially women, is engaged in silk production, processing, readymade garments, designing, marketing, and packaging, UP and India can emerge as global leaders in the garment industry." Yogi urged the stakeholders to leverage the initiatives taken by the state government to realise this vision. He highlighted a remarkable achievement in silk production, which has increased 84-fold under the current administration. "A day will come when UP will be recognised among the top states in the country for silk production," he said. The CM also released the 'Resham Mitra' magazine and felicitated 16 farmers, entrepreneurs, institutions and designers with Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya Resham Ratna Samman. Following the ceremony, he toured the exhibition. He highlighted that since the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government came to power in 2017, UP 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," he said. "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 said. Yogi 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 UP’s prospects in this sector. He said that clothing not only meets a basic need but also serves as a vital means to boost farmers income and generate employment. "UP 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 said. The CM urged the people to explore the vast potential for development within UP. He pointed out that places like Varanasi, Bhadohi, and Azamgarh, known for their silk sarees such as those from Mubarakpur, hold significant promise. He said, "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 setting up of a Trade Facilitation Centre at the Varanasi Expo Mart has further boosted this traditional industry." 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. Yogi said, "The upcoming PM Mitra Park, a large textile hub on the Lucknow-Hardoi border, will cover 1,000 acres and host various textile-related industries, showcasing UP's potential in this field." However, he emphasised the need for local raw material production to support these initiatives. He encouraged farmers to participate, stating that the central government offers several schemes for their benefit. 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. The CM said, "This initiative aims to enhance opportunities, not just in the Gorakhpur division but also in Varanasi, Mirzapur, Lucknow, Devipatan, Basti and Azamgarh." He highlighted that UP, with its nine climatic zones, offers a unique opportunity to develop and promote diverse agricultural products across different regions. "The state has immense potential, especially in areas like Varanasi and Azamgarh, which have been hubs for the silk industry since ancient times," he said. Yogi 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 will support training initiatives, and assist in raw material procurement, processing, marketing, and design," he said. He pointed out that farmers and entrepreneurs in UP 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 said. The CM said, "Today, the state showcases a variety of unique products, including 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." He said, "These products represent UP's rich heritage and provide a platform for youth and entrepreneurs to advance through traditional industries." Yogi called for a rapid expansion of silk clusters in regions with the potential, urging the relevant departments to collaborate with farmers who could act as 'silk friends', helping to realise this potential and position UP as a strong competitor among other states. He stressed the importance of timely incentives to better showcase the state's capabilities to the world. "The upcoming PM Mitra Textiles Park in Lucknow is poised to play a key role in furthering these opportunities," he said. The CM emphasised that silk garments are rooted in indigenous technology, and there is a need to continuously upgrade and adapt this technology. He pointed out the evolution from the traditional hand-operated spinning wheel for khadi, to electric-powered versions, which increased efficiency five to ten times with the rise in electricity use. "Similarly, silk production must integrate modern processing techniques and align with updated spinning programs," he said. He highlighted that alongside daily activities, these initiatives can promote women's self-reliance at the local level. "Such efforts are progressing in line with Prime Minister Modi's vision for women's empowerment under the Mission Shakti initiative," he said...////...