In a move to boost India’s textile exports, the country’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry has formed a new task force to address major challenges in the sector.
“The primary objective of setting up the Textiles Task Force is to create a unified platform for addressing critical issues concerning the textile sector by involving all relevant stakeholders,” the commerce and industry ministry said in a statement.
The task force held its first meeting on Tuesday, chaired by outgoing Commerce Secretary Sunil Barthwal, with representatives from the Department of Commerce, Ministry of Textiles, and Directorate General of Foreign Trade, as well as members from export promotion councils, industry associations, and exporters.
The meeting focused on streamlining the regulatory framework, labor policies, and cost competitiveness to improve productivity. Discussions also covered skilling programs, branding strategies, and recommendations for Interest Subvention Schemes, the ministry revealed on Wednesday.
The task force has decided to establish issue-specific sub-groups, each led by relevant ministries in collaboration with export promotion councils and industry representatives. According to the Commerce and Industry Ministry, these sub-groups will develop actionable recommendations for the task force.
The task force meeting comes at a crucial time as India works to expand textile export markets beyond traditional destinations like the U.S. and the European Union. With a target of $100 billion in textile exports by 2030-31, the initiative aims to reduce dependency on key markets while fostering global trade diversification.
The discussion also included the development of new jute-diversified products, the creation of separate HS codes for GI products, and measures to augment the productivity of natural fibers like jute. Furthermore, topics related to the Export Promotion Mission, which is being established by the Department of Commerce, along with other textile export-related matters, were addressed.
Stakeholders view the task force as a renewed effort to align textile sector reforms while unlocking India’s potential to become a global sourcing powerhouse. India’s textile exports have experienced fluctuations in recent years, increasing from $35.55 billion in FY23 to $36.55 billion in FY25, following a dip to $34.40 billion in FY24.
REAL ESTATE | Buyer Budget Mismatch Shifts Property Demand Outward
