The Indian government has set an ambitious target of reaching $100 billion in textile and apparel exports by 2030. To achieve this goal, the central government has begun developing a detailed roadmap, focusing on nearly doubling exports to countries with free trade agreements (FTAs). Currently, India’s textile exports stand at approximately $40 billion.
According to an economic affairs official, India will focus on increasing textile exports to FTA partner countries, with a special focus on traditional and high-value segments. These include silk textiles, handloom products, carpets, and products with Geographical Indication (GI) tags. Furthermore, the government aims to integrate districts that have been non-exporters into the export system.
The Ministry of Textiles, led by Union Minister Giriraj Singh, is working on a plan to increase the share of India’s textile exports to FTA partner countries from 5.8 percent to around 12 percent, while also strengthening targeted branding for high-value products.
The government’s strategy is not limited to FTA countries. The ministry aims to increase India’s share in total imports from the top 40 importing countries from 4.8 percent ($28.3 billion) to 10 percent, which would be in the range of $55–60 billion. Currently, about 55 percent of India’s textile exports go to traditional markets such as the US, EU, and UK, while about 20 percent go to emerging markets such as Australia, Canada, Bangladesh, the UAE, and Sri Lanka.
“We need to increase market linkage efforts for products that have strong export potential, cultural value and employment generation potential,” a senior official said. Under the roadmap, states will be expected to promote new products, bring new districts into the export ecosystem, and focus on training and guidance for first-time exporters.
The official further explained that a strategy will be developed under this scheme based on best-in-class products and markets. He said, “There are 527 districts in India that export textiles and apparel. States will be asked to map their clusters with potential and existing export markets.”
India is the world’s sixth-largest textile exporter, with a 4.1 percent share of the global textile trade. It’s worth noting that despite the 50 percent tariff imposed by the Trump administration, the Modi government has launched special outreach initiatives in 40 countries, including the UK, UAE, Russia, Japan, and South Korea.
The government believes that through product diversification, identification of new markets and active participation of states and districts, India can not only double its textile exports but also strengthen its position in the global supply chain.
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