For 24 years, Ambrish Chopra has been a cornerstone of GTE, steering the exhibition through its
evolution from traditional manufacturing to the era of AI. Balancing a rapid shift toward automation with
a deep respect for the labor force, he has championed regional clusters and “Make in India” on a global
scale. In this Walk & Talk, Chopra reflects on GTE’s growth and why, even in a high-tech future, patience
and personal relationships remain the industry’s most vital tools.
You’ve been with GTE since the early 2000s. How has the sewing
and embroidery landscape evolved?
Our core strength remains sewing and embroidery, but the way we
reach people has transformed. In 2002, we relied on newspapers;
today, it’s all social media and digital validation. We’ve meticulously
built a database of 42,000 professionals over the years literally
calling landlines and tracking industry shifts which helped us cross
9,800 visitors by just the second day of this show.
What was your biggest takeaway from your recent visit to CISMA
in China?
Automation is now non-negotiable. From hanger systems to CAD/
CAM, the industry is moving to reduce labor intensity. While South
India has already diversified into automation, the North is now
following. By 2027, “Make in India” will serve the world, and that
requires the speed and cost-efficiency that only AI and automation
can provide.
Does more automation mean the end of the traditional workforce?
Never. We can reduce dependency, but we can’t eliminate labor.
Automation actually leaves more profit for manufacturers to
reinvest. We are also seeing the industry move to where the labor is;
for instance, we are working with the Jharkhand Association to
develop apparel parks, which grows the local economy while
reducing our costs.
What are GTE’s plans for new regional shows?
While Delhi is our flagship, we’ve officially announced a new show
in Calcutta due to high demand from the leather and garment
sectors. We also run alternate shows in Bangalore and Ahmedabad.
Thanks to our partnership with IEML and Rakesh ji, we now have
a bigger platform and a stronger team, allowing us to plan three to
four shows annually.
How do you stay calm under the immense pressure of exhibition
operations?
I believe in working with love. In operations, I sometimes have to be
the “bad guy” to ensure rules are followed and machines are set up
by morning, but I always apologize later. Over 24 years, I’ve learned
that if you treat people with patience and politeness, they will go out
of their way to help you.
What is your message to the next generation?
Have patience. Today’s generation has great tech access but low
patience. Success in this business relies on one-to-one personal
relationships. My advice: think of a solution before you file a
complaint. If you only look for problems, you will struggle.
GTE has a remarkably loyal following. What is the secret?
We are a family. Of our original 30 participants, over 20 are still
with us. Seeing a brand grow from a 9-meter stall to 100 meters
only happens through personal bonds. Our motto is “Best today,
Still Better Tomorrow.” When the industry grows, GTE and India
grow with it
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