Arvind Limited has strengthened its apparel manufacturing capabilities with the inauguration of a new garment manufacturing facility in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The facility, developed with an investment of approximately ₹150 crore, marks the company’s first manufacturing unit in the state and is expected to generate employment for more than 1,000 people, predominantly women.

The inauguration was attended by Anandiben Patel, Governor of Uttar Pradesh; Yogi Adityanath, Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh; senior government officials and industry leaders. Sanjay Lalbhai, Chairman of Arvind Limited, and Vice Chairmen Punit Lalbhai and Kulin Lalbhai welcomed the Prime Minister and accompanied him on a tour of the facility.

Spread across 5.5 acres, the greenfield facility has a built-up area of approximately 65,000 sq. ft. and a projected revenue potential of ₹250 crore. The plant will manufacture essential knitwear products using advanced automated sewing technologies, adding garmenting capacity to India’s textile and apparel manufacturing ecosystem.

Commenting on the inauguration, Sanjay Lalbhai, Chairman of Arvind Limited, said, “We are deeply honoured to have the Hon’ble Prime Minister inaugurate this facility. The Lalbhai Group’s journey of 130 years began in 1897 and has remained closely intertwined with India’s industrial progress. Inspired by the institution-building vision of Shri Kasturbhai Lalbhai, we have consistently invested in enterprises that contribute to economic growth, employment generation and nation-building. We are particularly proud that this investment will create large-scale employment opportunities, with women expected to form a significant part of the workforce, reflecting the transformative power of Nari Shakti in driving India’s growth story. We are proud to partner in India’s development journey through investment, innovation and job creation.”

Punit Lalbhai, Vice Chairman of Arvind Limited, highlighted India’s potential to strengthen its position in global apparel manufacturing, supported by its textile value chain, workforce and growing demand for diversified sourcing destinations.

“India is at an inflection point in its apparel manufacturing journey. With a strong textile value chain, a skilled workforce and growing global demand for diversified sourcing, the country is well positioned to emerge as a preferred manufacturing destination for the world. Sustained investments in capacity, productivity, sustainability and workforce development will be critical to realising this opportunity. We are happy that this facility will contribute to local economy with multiplier impact through local employment generation, local sourcing of goods and services and a secondary impact on the ecosystem of moving workforce back home through reverse migration. At Arvind, we remain committed to contributing to this growth story by building globally competitive manufacturing capabilities that create long-term value and employment,” he said.

Kulin Lalbhai, Vice Chairman of Arvind Limited, said Uttar Pradesh was emerging as an attractive destination for manufacturing investment, supported by infrastructure development, industrial growth, connectivity and skill creation.

“Uttar Pradesh is rapidly establishing itself as one of India’s most attractive manufacturing destinations. The state’s focus on infrastructure development, industrial growth, connectivity and skill creation is enabling businesses to expand with confidence and scale. As the textile and apparel sector continues to grow, Uttar Pradesh is well positioned to play a pivotal role in strengthening India’s manufacturing ecosystem, creating employment opportunities and attracting long-term investment,” he added.

The Varanasi facility represents a strategic step in the vertical integration of Arvind’s garmenting business. It will enable the company to forward-integrate its in-house manufactured knitted fabrics into finished garments, helping increase its share of business with existing customers and strengthen customer relationships.

The additional manufacturing capacity is also expected to support Arvind’s efforts to serve international markets, including Europe and the United Kingdom, amid expanding trade opportunities following recently signed free trade agreements (FTAs).

Designed as a modern manufacturing hub, the facility incorporates automated production systems intended to improve productivity, maintain consistent quality and support scalable operations. The company has also established dedicated hostels for workers, with plans to expand residential infrastructure as the facility’s operations grow.

Beyond direct employment, the project is expected to contribute to Varanasi’s local economy through workforce skill development, local sourcing and increased activity across logistics, supply chains and supporting services. The facility is expected to strengthen Uttar Pradesh’s apparel manufacturing ecosystem while contributing to India’s broader ambitions to expand its role in global textile and garment production.