A. Sakthivel Elected BTTF Chairman Ahead of Bharat Tex 2027

The Bharat Tex Trade Federation (BTTF) has elected Dr A. Sakthivel as its new Chairman, installing the Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC) head at the top of the body that runs India's flagship textile sourcing event, Bharat Tex, scheduled for March 31 to April 3, 2027 in New Delhi.

The Federation confirmed the appointments at its 12th Board Meeting, held in New Delhi on October 28. Bhadresh Dodhia was re-elected as Co-Chairman. Sudhir Sekhri was appointed Treasurer. The Ministry of Textiles, Government of India, supports Bharat Tex; BTTF organises it.

Who takes over, and with what mandate?

Dr Sakthivel arrives with an existing power base in Indian apparel exporting. He chairs the AEPC, the body that represents India's garment export sector. That dual role gives BTTF a chairman who already deals directly with export promotion machinery in government and with buyer delegations abroad.

The Federation has set out the new leadership's brief in concrete terms. Priorities include:

• Strengthening India's textile and apparel exports
• Expanding international market access for Indian suppliers
• Raising global visibility of Indian textile products
• Promoting investment, innovation and collaboration across the textile value chain

For sourcing executives, the appointment signals continuity in how India positions itself to international buyers: a single federation-led platform, backed by the textiles ministry, rather than fragmented sectoral fairs.

What is planned for Bharat Tex 2027?

The next edition runs March 31 to April 3, 2027. BTTF expects the event to focus on three commercial tracks: expanding international participation, facilitating business partnerships, and promoting India's textile manufacturing and sourcing capabilities.

The Federation has framed the show as a venue for deal-making rather than display. Incoming leadership statements emphasise buyer engagement, export opportunities and market linkages — the language of order books, not runway presentations.

What did the new chairman say?

Dr Sakthivel set out his agenda in direct terms.

"Our focus will be on strengthening India's position in global markets, expanding export opportunities and enhancing engagement with international buyers," he said. "Bharat Tex 2027 will be a key platform to showcase India's capabilities, facilitate meaningful business partnerships and reinforce India's standing as a leading global textile and apparel hub."

He added that his priorities include expanding export opportunities, strengthening India's position in global markets and increasing engagement with international buyers — a trio of goals that map onto the Federation's stated mandate.

Co-Chairman Bhadresh Dodhia, re-elected to his post, pointed to execution. "Going forward, we will continue to focus on strengthening industry partnerships, enhancing international market linkages and ensuring that Bharat Tex 2027 delivers greater opportunities for Indian exporters and manufacturers," he said.

What changes at the top mean for the handover

Outgoing Chairman Naren Goenka said the incoming leadership would build on the Federation's progress and further strengthen connections with international buyers.

The transition keeps an experienced pairing in place. Dodhia's re-election provides continuity in the Co-Chairman's seat, while Sekhri takes over the Treasurer's role. The October 28 board meeting in New Delhi formalised all three positions.

No specific export targets, participation figures or investment sums accompanied the announcements. The Federation has framed its goals qualitatively so far: market access, visibility, investment and value-chain collaboration. Buyers and vendors tracking the event will look to BTTF's next announcements for numbers on exhibitor counts, international delegations and floor space.

Why the timing matters

The leadership change lands well ahead of the March 2027 show, giving the new team a full planning cycle. With the Ministry of Textiles as backer and a chairman who simultaneously heads AEPC, BTTF can align Bharat Tex with broader export-promotion policy — an advantage as India competes with rival sourcing destinations for factory-gate attention.

The next 12 months will show whether the Sakthivel-Dodhia team converts stated priorities into measurable gains: more international buyers on the ground in New Delhi, more signed partnerships and a stronger export trajectory for Indian textile and apparel suppliers.