Textiles Minister Giriraj Singh has announced an ambitious goal to lift India’s textile and apparel exports to $100 billion within the next five years, up from approximately $40 billion today. The strategy involves targeting high-income markets, launching a ₹5,000 crore cotton productivity mission, and promoting new-age fibers like milkweed, ramie, and flax.
The government is also focusing on reducing reliance on imported textile machinery from Germany, Japan, and China by encouraging domestic manufacturing. Employment in the sector is projected to nearly double, rising from 45 million today to 80 million workers by 2031. Singh noted that while India has 15 FTA partners with a $198 billion textile market, current exports to those nations stand at only $11.5 billion.
To improve quality and sustainability, the ministry is utilizing AI-based inspection to reduce the production of defective clothing by 80%. This technological upgrade is expected to bolster exports to quality-conscious economies like South Korea and Japan. Additionally, dedicated outreach programs are currently underway in 40 countries to counter the impact of 50% US tariffs on Indian textiles.