Gujarat pitches PM-MITRA Navsari park to South Korea's Youngone Corporation
Synopsis
Gujarat isn't waiting for investors to come to it — Deputy CM Harsh Sanghavi flew to Daegu to pitch the 1,142-acre PM MITRA Textile Park directly to Youngone Corporation, one of Asia's largest performance-garment manufacturers. With Gujarat holding 65% of India's denim output and a freight corridor linking Navsari to global ports, the state is making a targeted case that India-Korea textile synergy starts here.
Key Takeaways
Gujarat Deputy CM Harsh Sanghavi met Youngone Corporation President Jae-young Park in Daegu, South Korea on 22 October 2026 .
The proposed PM MITRA Textile Park in Navsari spans 1,142 acres and is designed as an integrated spinning-to-garment ecosystem.
Gujarat accounts for roughly one-third of India's man-made fibre output and nearly 65% of its denim production.
Youngone Corporation employs around one lakh people globally and specialises in performance garments and synthetic fabrics.
Around 28 delegates from Korean textile machinery and fabric manufacturing firms participated in the cooperation roundtable at KTDI, Daegu .
No formal investment commitment was announced; discussions remain at an exploratory stage ahead of the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit .
Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi on 22 October 2026 formally invited South Korean textile major Youngone Corporation to explore investments and joint ventures in the state, with the proposed 1,142-acre PM MITRA Textile Park in Navsari positioned as the centrepiece of potential bilateral cooperation. The invitation was extended during a high-level meeting in Daegu, South Korea, as part of outreach ahead of the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit.
The Daegu Engagement
Sanghavi met Youngone Corporation President Jae-young Park and senior company officials in Daegu, a major textile industry hub. The Gujarat delegation had arrived in South Korea after a prior visit to Japan focused on strengthening international industrial partnerships. The meeting was preceded by a visit to the Korea Textile Development Institute (KTDI), where the delegation toured research and development facilities, pilot units, and testing and analysis centres.
The Gujarat-Korea Textile Industry Cooperation Roundtable at KTDI brought together around 28 delegates, including company heads and chief executives from eight textile machinery firms — among them Mikwang, Ace, Samil, Wooyang and Ilsung — and four fabric manufacturing companies: Haewon Trading, Bohyun Textile, Dongjin and Hyundai Chemical Fibre. Nishikant Singh, Deputy Chief of Mission at the Indian Embassy in Seoul, delivered opening remarks on bilateral trade relations.
Gujarat's Textile Pitch
Sanghavi underscored Gujarat's commanding position in India's textile sector, noting that the state accounts for roughly one-third of the country's man-made fibre production and nearly 65 per cent of its denim output. He described an integrated value chain stretching from cotton cultivation through spinning, fabric manufacturing and ready-made garments.
'Textiles are woven into Gujarat's identity. From cotton fields to spinning mills, and from Ahmedabad's denim to Surat's synthetic fabrics, Gujarat connects the entire value chain — from farm to fibre, factory to fashion and foreign markets,' Sanghavi said at the roundtable.
Mamata Verma, Additional Chief Secretary of the Industries and Mines Department, presented a detailed overview of Gujarat's textile infrastructure, policies, and opportunities available to Korean companies.
PM MITRA Park: The Investment Anchor
The proposed PM MITRA Textile Park in Navsari, spanning approximately 1,142 acres, was presented as a ready platform for Korean investment. The park is designed to consolidate spinning, weaving, processing, technical textiles, and garment manufacturing within a single integrated ecosystem — reducing logistics costs and improving supply chain efficiency for potential investors.
Sanghavi also highlighted Gujarat's infrastructure advantages: Surat International Airport, Hazira Port, and access to the Dedicated Freight Corridor — all of which, he argued, could meaningfully support manufacturing scale-up and export competitiveness.
The Korea Opportunity
Youngone Corporation, which operates across outdoor sportswear, performance garments and textile manufacturing, employs around one lakh people globally and is a significant producer of high-quality fabrics and synthetic materials. Sanghavi drew a direct complementarity: 'Korea has exceptional expertise in advanced technology, advanced fibres and performance materials, while Gujarat has extensive manufacturing capacity and an integrated supply chain. Korean innovation and Gujarat's entrepreneurial skills can together create a new revolution in the global textile sector.'
He also invited Youngone's representatives to attend the upcoming Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit and tour Gujarat's textile clusters firsthand.
Delegation and Next Steps
Gujarat government officials attending the Daegu meetings included Industries Commissioner P Swaroop; Arvind V, Joint Secretary (Budget) in the Finance Department; Joint Industries Commissioner Kanak Der; and Deputy Chief Minister's Secretary Ashish Kumar. The roundtable discussions covered technical exchanges, business cooperation frameworks, and potential investments in textile machinery and fabric manufacturing. No formal investment commitment was announced; the engagement is understood to be at an exploratory stage ahead of the Vibrant Gujarat Summit.
Point of View
But through targeted, sector-specific diplomatic missions abroad. Gujarat's pitch is credible on numbers: 65% of India's denim and a third of its man-made fibre production are hard to argue with. The real test is whether the PM MITRA park, still in the proposal stage, can move fast enough to match the ambition of the pitch — Korean manufacturers are accustomed to world-class plug-and-play infrastructure, and delays in park development have derailed similar industrial tie-ups in the past. The delegation's simultaneous Japan and Korea itinerary suggests Gujarat is deliberately diversifying its Asian investor base beyond the traditional China-and-US axis, which is strategically astute given current supply chain realignments.
NationPress
23 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the PM MITRA Textile Park in Navsari?
The PM MITRA Textile Park in Navsari, Gujarat, is a proposed 1,142-acre integrated textile manufacturing zone designed to house spinning, weaving, processing, technical textiles, and garment production under one roof. It is being positioned by the Gujarat government as a flagship destination for foreign textile investment, including from South Korean companies.
Why did Gujarat Deputy CM Harsh Sanghavi visit South Korea?
Sanghavi led a high-level state delegation to Daegu, South Korea, as part of pre-summit outreach ahead of the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit. The visit focused on attracting Korean textile investment, particularly to the PM MITRA Navsari park, and included participation in a textile industry cooperation roundtable at the Korea Textile Development Institute.
Who is Youngone Corporation and why is it relevant?
Youngone Corporation is a major South Korean textile conglomerate operating in outdoor sportswear, performance garments, and synthetic fabric manufacturing, with a global workforce of around one lakh people. Its expertise in advanced fibres and performance materials makes it a strategic fit for Gujarat's integrated textile value chain and the PM MITRA park's manufacturing ambitions.
What is Gujarat's standing in India's textile industry?
Gujarat accounts for approximately one-third of India's man-made fibre production and nearly 65% of its denim output. The state offers an end-to-end textile value chain from cotton cultivation through spinning, weaving, and garment manufacturing, supported by infrastructure including Surat International Airport, Hazira Port, and the Dedicated Freight Corridor.
Has any investment deal been finalised with South Korea?
No formal investment commitment has been announced. The engagements in Daegu — including the meeting with Youngone Corporation and the Gujarat-Korea Textile Industry Cooperation Roundtable — are at an exploratory stage, with the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit expected to serve as the next formal platform for advancing these discussions.
