India’s Textile Sector is Worthy of Investment for Growth
February 19, 2025 The textile sector has a role to play in the development story of India.
On Feb. 16, arriving in India just a few days following diplomatic trips to France and the United States, Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended a major global textile exposition in Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi and delivered the keynote address promoting global trade in textiles and apparels.
In a lighter mood when addressing the huge audience, the Prime Minister hinted at the growth opportunities in the textiles sector when he quipped, “Clap when the growth of the Indian textile sector is 17% instead of 7%, as was the case last year.”
He stressed the need for long term planning, focusing on sustainability and encouraging start-up culture in textiles to help boost employment growth in the sector. He also encouraged interaction among the participants to know diverse cultures while engaging in business.
Extolling the organization of a major global platform which attracted participants from over 120 countries, the Prime Minister encouraged interaction among the participants to know diverse cultures while engaging in business.
India is growing in status as a global leader in textiles, which is evident from the increased number of countries – now at 126 – participating in the second edition of the Bharat Tex event, stated Giriraj Singh, India’s Minister of Textiles.
India is currently the sixth largest exporter of textiles and apparels valued at US$36 billion with a target of US$104 billion by 2030.
Pointing out the growth schemes promoted in the latest budget, the Prime Minister emphasized the need for a reliable cotton supply and the contribution of the technical textiles sector towards the growth of India’s textiles sector. He noted that India is investing heavily to increase domestic production capacity for high quality carbon fiber and reminisced about discussions he used to have with textile leaders to boost the technical textiles in the State of Gujarat while he was its Chief Minister.
I have personally witnessed his enthusiasm to promote technical textiles by organizing forums in Vibrant Gujarat business events. I have participated in a few Vibrant Gujarat events promoting industry tie-ups and toured India doing knowledge transfer in the field of nonwovens in events organized by the Association of Nonwoven Fabrics Industry-INDA.
It is heartening to see the Prime Minister dedicating time to emphasize the opportunities in recycling and upcycling waste. He prodded entrepreneurs to focus on start-ups in sustainability, use AI tools to predict fashion trends, and engage in innovation.
In closing, he remarked that the textile industry will play a key role in India’s journey to be a developed country by 2047.
Not only are countries like India dedicating efforts towards advanced manufacturing, but developed economies are focusing attention on advanced textiles that cater to health, environment, and advanced application sectors such as defense. While the tariff regimes proposed by U.S. President Trump may not immediately bring back manufacturing in commodity textiles, opportunities will rise in the advanced textiles sector which involve heavy investment in research and skilled workforce.
The textiles sector should be optimistic to see the support it is receiving from the highest levels of governments.
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