Former Additional Textile Commissioner Balaraju Is SRTEPC Executive Director

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Former Additional Textile Commissioner Balaraju Is SRTEPC Executive Director

The Synthetic & Rayon Textiles Export Promotion Council (SRTEPC) has appointed S Balaraju who retired as Additional Textile Commissioner in August this year, as its executive director, it has been officially announced.

An MBA in International Trade from Acharya Nagarjuna University, Andhra Pradesh, Balaraju who has a vast experience of 35 years in textiles and MSME sectors, took over as SRTEPC’s Executive Director from October 16.

Balaraju was associated with the Office of the Textile Commissioner for the past 20 years and retired as Additional Textile Commissioner on August 31, 2017 after a long and remarkable career working on various posts.

During his tenure at Office of the Textile Commissioner, Balaraju was actively involved in redefining the role of that office from a regulatory role to a developmental role.

He was instrumental in formulating many schemes for the development of the power loom sector. He was also involved in conceptualising Technology Upgradation Fund Scheme (TUFS) in 1999 and Amended Technology Fund Scheme (ATUFS) in 2015-16.

When the Malegaon Industries & Manufacturers Association (MIMA) proposed the concept of in-situ upgradation of plain power looms in 2010, at a meeting of stakeholders in New Delhi, Balaraju was among the first to lend support on behalf of the Union Ministry Of Textiles. He was also the key driving force behind the establishment of a mini-textile park on about 16 acres of MIDC land in Malegaon.

Balaraju has also worked with the Ministry of Micro, Small & medium Enterprises (MSME) as well as the Ministry of Labour & Employment, Government of India for a period of nearly 12 years. During this tenur,e he worked for labour reform and to provide basic amenities at power loom units, besides playing an important role in devising insurance scheme for weavers working in the textile sector.

The SRTEPC, which was set up in 1954, is one of the oldest export promotion councils in India. It has played a transforming role over the years, inculcating export culture and promoting exports of Indian man-made fibre and textiles.