The society was established in 1957 and was originally known as Model Weavers Coop. Society. It was later converted as the Pondicherry State Weavers’ Cooperative Society Ltd., No.P.57 and is now popularly called as, “PONTEX”

The handloom tradition in Pondicherry is kept alive by a small class of devoted handloom weavers who weave in the handloom fabrics. This timeless art is market through PONTEX 22 showrooms and today is a 18 crores society. PONTEX is one of the few profitable Apex Weavers Coop. Society in the country today. Behind the success there are 3,800 handloom weaves, 120 dedicated staff, 13 Primary Weavers Coop. Societies and the support of the Government of Puducherry.

The prime objective of this apex society is to ensure continuous employment to the weavers in the co-operative fold by arranging timely regular supply of yam and by marketing their finished goods and by the giving necessary technical guidance to maintain the quality of fabrics. Next to that the foremost objective is to procure the entire handloom products so produced by the primaries and to arrange for successful marketing thereby to liquidate the entire finished products without accumulation. There two main objectives have been implemented by our organization properly and very successfully without hindrance.

The apex society is supplying yarn both grey and coloured to the affiliated primary societies according to their requirements without interruption throughout the year.

Nearly 2,600 weaver-members are covered under Coop.fold. (Including allied workers) The major varieties of production produced by our weavers are Lungies, Bed sheets, Pillow Covers, Bed Spreads, Napkins, Readymade shirts, Terry Towels, Dhoties, Cotton Sarees etc.