India’s Minister of Textiles, Giriraj Singh, recently announced the establishment of four industry-led committees aimed at expediting recommendations on market diversification, fiscal and business reforms, structural alterations in the value chain, and enhancing cost competitiveness. This announcement came during a high-level meeting attended by prominent stakeholders from the textiles and apparel sector, including Minister of State for Textiles Pabitra Margherita and Secretary of the Ministry of Textiles Neelam Shami Rao.
Singh emphasized the significance of the “5F” approach—Farm to Fibre to Factory to Fashion to Foreign—urging stakeholders to diversify their export offerings, boost product competitiveness, and explore new markets that are currently underserved. According to the Ministry of Textiles, he specifically encouraged exporters to look into the European Union market, which imports textiles worth a staggering $268.8 billion—more than double that of the U.S. market. India has already entered into 15 Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with countries that have a combined textile import demand of $198.9 billion and is actively negotiating FTAs with the EU.
The Minister also highlighted the government’s commitment to enhancing domestic value addition and sustainable manufacturing practices while reinforcing India’s reputation for quality worldwide. He expressed optimism that concerted efforts between the government and the industry, driven by innovation, would allow India to achieve its target of $100 billion in textile exports by 2030, despite the uncertainties in the global market.
India is currently the sixth-largest exporter of textiles globally, holding a 4.1% share of the international market. In the fiscal year 2024–25, the country exported textiles and apparel worth $37.7 billion, contributing 8.63% to its total merchandise exports. Although the U.S. constitutes 28.97% of India’s textile exports, it only accounts for 6% of the overall $179 billion industry, which has seen a significant surge in domestic demand over the past decade.
As the industry navigates the complexities of global trade dynamics and tariff challenges, these new committees specifically aim to enhance strategic initiatives, making Indian textiles more competitive on the international stage. The emphasis on diversifying markets and improving product offerings is crucial for sustaining growth and expanding India’s footprint in global textiles.
