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Mumbai, October 1st, 2025: Industry veteran and entrepreneur Mahesh Kudav, Managing Director
of Venus Safety & Health Pvt. Ltd., has been appointed as the new Chairman
of the Indian Technical Textile Association (ITTA) at the association’s Annual
General Meeting held on September 19, 2025. His appointment marks a significant
milestone in a distinguished career dedicated to strengthening India’s safety
and technical textiles ecosystem and advancing the country’s self-reliance in
critical manufacturing sectors.
A pioneer in the field of personal protective
equipment and technical textiles, Mahesh Kudav has built Venus Safety &
Health Pvt. Ltd. into one of India’s foremost PPE manufacturers with exports to
over 32 countries. From starting a small proprietary concern in 1985 with limited
capital, Kudav’s journey reflects entrepreneurial resilience and innovation-led
growth. Under his leadership, Venus has established world-class R&D
capabilities, introduced multiple patented safety technologies such as the
Butterfly Exhalation Valve and Twist & Click Gas Filter, and emerged as a
trusted supplier of advanced respiratory protection solutions for defence,
firefighting, healthcare, and hazardous industries.
Speaking on his new role, Mahesh Kudav said, “It is an
honour to be elected Chairman of ITTA and to have the opportunity to lead the
technical textiles industry at a transformative time. Over the next two years,
I aim to strengthen member services, deepen engagement with policymakers, and
equip our industry with the governance frameworks, skills, knowledge and
digital capabilities needed to compete globally. Our collective focus will be
on building a strong domestic ecosystem while preparing Indian manufacturers to
become significant players in global markets.”
Kudav’s role in building national capacity during the
COVID-19 pandemic further underscored his leadership. He spearheaded a massive
production ramp-up, enabling Venus to deliver over 20 lakh NIOSH N95/FFP2 masks
per day, while mentoring more than 180 domestic manufacturers to meet stringent
PPE standards — a crucial contribution to India’s self-reliance at a critical
time. Beyond his entrepreneurial achievements, he has been an active
contributor to national and international standardisation efforts, serving on
BIS committees, representing India in ISO respiratory standards, and partnering
with IITs and DRDO on cutting-edge safety technologies.
Kudav outlined a strategic roadmap that includes
strengthening ITTA’s engagement with government on industry challenges,
improving access to materials and machinery, building a skilled workforce
through training and internships, and expanding domestic demand through
inter-ministry initiatives supported by the Ministry of Textiles. He also
emphasised closer collaboration with research institutions and Centres of
Excellence to accelerate the adoption of new technologies and innovations,
preparing the industry for exports and global competitiveness.
Expressing his appreciation for the foundation laid by
his predecessors Mr. Avinash Misar and Dr. Anoop Rakshit, Kudav highlighted his
commitment to building on their work and taking ITTA’s mission to the next
level. He will be supported in this journey by Dr. Nandan Kumar and newly
appointed Executive Director Mr. Anil Vasupillai.
With this appointment, Mahesh Kudav brings his
decades-long experience, deep technical expertise, and innovation-driven
mindset to the leadership of ITTA. His vision is to create a stronger, more
competitive technical textiles industry that not only meets India’s domestic needs
but also establishes the country as a global hub for advanced textile solutions
— a mission that aligns closely with the national vision of Aatmanirbhar
Bharat.
About Venus Safety
Founded in 1986 and headquartered in Navi Mumbai,
VENUS Safety & Health Pvt. Ltd. is a leading global manufacturer of
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) with exports to over 32 countries. An ISO
9001:2015-certified company, VENUS operates seven advanced facilities producing
1.5 million units daily, powered by a 900+ strong workforce, 75% of whom are
women. With a portfolio spanning occupational safety, healthcare, and air
filtration, and innovations like the Stay Cool Butterfly Vent Valve and Twist N
Click filter system, VENUS is recognized for its quality, reliability, and contribution
to global safety standards through collaborations with IITs, DRDO, BIS, and
ISO.
For further information on the company: https://venusohs.com/
