India ranks among the world’s top textile exporters, with a 4% share in global textile and apparel exports, as per a statement made by Minister of State for Textiles, Pabitra Margherita, in the Lok Sabha on Friday.
This marks India’s prominent position in the global textile trade.
Textile And Apparel Exports See Significant Growth
According to the data tabled in Parliament, the export of textiles, apparel, and handicrafts witnessed a 7% growth from April to December 2024 compared to the same period last year.
The United States, European Union, and the United Kingdom together accounted for 53% of India’s total textile exports in FY 2023-24.
This growth highlights India’s competitive edge in the global textile market and reflects the success of government initiatives aimed at boosting the sector.
Government Initiatives To Boost Textile Industry
The Indian government is implementing several key initiatives to strengthen the textile sector and promote exports:
- PM MITRA Parks Scheme: This initiative focuses on creating modern, integrated, world-class textile infrastructure across India, aiming to enhance manufacturing capacity.
- Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme: The PLI scheme supports manufacturing in MMF fabric, MMF apparel, and technical textiles, aiming to increase large-scale production and competitiveness in the industry.
- National Technical Textiles Mission: This mission promotes research, innovation, market development, and the growth of technical textiles, a rapidly emerging segment within the textile industry.
- SAMARTH Scheme: This initiative provides a demand-driven, placement-oriented skilling program to boost workforce capacity in the textile sector.
Other programs, including Silk Samagra-2 and the National Handloom Development Programme, focus on specific sectors within textiles, such as sericulture and handloom, to ensure holistic growth and export potential.
In addition to the textile sector, the Ministry of Textiles is promoting handicrafts through the National Handicrafts Development Programme and the Comprehensive Handicrafts Cluster Development Scheme, ensuring that traditional artisans benefit from export opportunities and growth.
To ensure a steady supply of cotton and encourage its cultivation, the government announces a Minimum Support Price (MSP) for cotton each year. This price guarantee ensures that farmers receive fair compensation, even when market prices fall below the MSP.
Additionally, the government has reduced the customs duty on Extra-Long Staple (ELS) cotton to nil as of February 2024, facilitating the import of 51,000 tonnes of duty-free ELS cotton under the India-Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA).
India Expands Trade Partnerships
India has also signed 14 Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), including recent agreements with the UAE, Australia, and EFTA countries such as Switzerland and Norway, further boosting export prospects.
The country has also signed six Preferential Trade Agreements (PTAs), enhancing market access for Indian textile products.
India Boosting Competitiveness And Export Potential
The government is actively working to enhance the competitiveness of India’s textile exports through the Rebate of State and Central Taxes and Levies (RoSCTL) scheme for apparel, which ensures zero-rated exports.
Products not covered by the RoSCTL scheme are eligible for the Remissions of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products (RoDTEP) scheme, ensuring comprehensive financial support for exporters.
Additionally, the Ministry of Textiles provides financial assistance to export promotion councils and trade bodies, enabling them to participate in international trade fairs, exhibitions, and buyer-seller meets, further boosting India’s textile exports on the global stage.
India’s textile industry continues to thrive, driven by government initiatives and strategic trade agreements.
With an expanding export base and support for innovation and infrastructure development, India is solidifying its position as a global textile manufacturing leader.
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