Highly conductive yarn was successfully obtained using electroless nickel plating method with palladium activation. In the presence of palladium seed on surface of fibers as a catalyst, continuos nickel layer produced on surface of fibers by reducing $Ni${2+}$ ion in the electroless plating bath to $Ni^0$. It was found that the Pd-activation using $SnCl_2$ and $PdCl_2$ to deposit palladium seeds on the surface of fibers plays a key role in the subsequent electroless plating of nickel. It also found that electroless nickel plating on the fibers can induce the nickel-plated $ELEX^{(R)}$ fibers to improve the electrical conductivity of the fibers. The thickness of nickel coating layer on the Pd-activated $ELEX^{(R)}$ fibers and specific conductivity of the fiber were increased through electroless plating time. The temperature of nickel plating bath was very effective to enhance the nickel deposition rate.