India is targeting a threefold increase in its textile exports, aiming to reach ₹9 lakh crore by 2030, Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared on Sunday. He expressed optimism that this target could be achieved even earlier, driven by the ‘Five Fs’ vision and a $7.5 billion global opportunity in textile waste recycling.
Speaking at Bharat Tex 2025 in New Delhi, Modi highlighted that India’s textile exports currently stand at ₹3 lakh crore. The textile sector grew by 7% last year, making India the world’s sixth-largest textile exporter. He urged the industry to strive for double-digit growth in the coming years.
The Prime Minister emphasised Bharat Tex 2025’s role in providing Indian entrepreneurs access to over 120 countries, enabling them to expand their businesses globally. Textile Minister Giriraj Singh noted that exhibitors from 126 countries are participating in the event, which runs from February 14 to 17, showcasing the entire textile value chain from raw materials to finished products.
At Bharat Mandapam, the venue of the event, Modi remarked, “Today, Bharat Mandapam is witnessing the second edition of Bharat Tex. This event not only showcases our traditions but also reflects the possibilities of a ‘Viksit Bharat’ (Developed India). It is a matter of satisfaction for the nation that the seed we planted is now rapidly growing into a mighty banyan tree.”
Modi interacted with exhibitors, who shared that setting up a factory costs approximately ₹70-75 crore and provides jobs for about 2,000 people. He urged banks to meet the credit needs of MSMEs, highlighting their vital role in attracting investment and generating employment.
The Prime Minister also encouraged Indian firms and startups to explore textile recycling ventures, citing the industry’s projected growth to nearly $400 million domestically and $7.5 billion globally.
Highlighting the textile sector’s growth, Modi noted that foreign investment has doubled over the last decade, with the industry contributing 11% to India’s manufacturing sector. He also referenced the Manufacturing Mission, announced in the Union budget, which aims to bolster the textile industry through five focus areas: ease and cost of doing business, workforce development, a dynamic MSME sector, technological advancements, and quality products.
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, in her budget speech on February 1, announced a Mission for Cotton Productivity. This five-year initiative aims to enhance cotton farming productivity, promote extra-long staple cotton varieties, and ensure a steady supply of quality cotton for the traditional textile sector, aligning with the government’s integrated ‘5F’ vision: farm to fiber, fiber to factory, factory to fashion, and fashion to foreign markets.
The PM also recalled that the Ministry of Textiles, inspired by the ‘Five Fs’ vision, had notified the construction of seven PM Mega Integrated Textile Regions and Apparel (PM MITRA) Parks on October 21, 2021, to strengthen India’s textile ecosystem.
India holds a 3.9% share of the global textile and apparel trade, with the US and the European Union accounting for 47% of its total exports. According to experts, India’s textile exports have benefited from political turmoil in Bangladesh, leading to increased exports of jute products and garments.
Jute product exports rose 44% to $36 million in October 2024, contributing to a 1% growth in the April-October period, reaching $220 million. Readymade garment exports also surged 35% to $1,227 million in October 2024, compared to $909 million in the same month of 2023.
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