February 16 || TC – Prime Minister Narendra Modi has set an ambitious target of ₹9 lakh crore for India’s annual textile and apparel exports by 2030, aiming to triple the current exports of ₹3 lakh crore. Addressing the Bharat Tex 2025 expo, PM Modi emphasized the sector's significant role in employment generation, which provides jobs to millions of workers across the country.
He urged the textile industry to accelerate its export growth rate from the present 7% to 17% annually in order to reach this ambitious goal.
Priority Lending & Global Demand for Indian Textiles
PM Modi highlighted that the banking sector would be instructed to prioritize loans for the labour-intensive textile sector, as he noted that Indian textile manufacturers struggle to scale up production despite strong global demand. He pointed out that the overwhelming presence of over 6,000 buyers from 126 countries at the Bharat Tex event underscored the global demand for Indian textile products.
The Prime Minister further stated that Bharat Tex has now evolved into India's largest textile industry event, giving Indian businesses a platform to expand internationally.
Government’s Long-Term Support for the Textile Industry
PM Modi reaffirmed that the 2025-26 Budget reflects the government’s commitment to the long-term growth of the textile sector. Since over 80% of textile businesses fall under the MSME category, easing access to credit would greatly benefit them. Additionally, the industry would be able to leverage skill development schemes designed for MSMEs.
As part of the Mission for Cotton Productivity, the government aims to secure a steady supply of cotton and enhance the textile value chain, ensuring India’s competitiveness in global markets.
Technology, AI, and Sustainability in the Textile Sector
PM Modi encouraged the textile industry to collaborate with IITs to adopt cutting-edge technology and use AI to predict fashion trends.
“Earlier, the world dictated what we wore; now, we will set global fashion trends,” he declared.
Alongside technological advancements, the government is also promoting India’s rich handloom heritage, recognizing its cultural significance and export potential. Over the past 10 years, 2,400+ events have been organized to market handloom products, and e-commerce platforms have been leveraged to boost their sales. Additionally, GI tagging has further strengthened the market for traditional textiles.
Eco-Friendly Practices & Waste Management in Fashion
Emphasizing sustainability, PM Modi called for increased recycling and upcycling of textile waste to reduce environmental damage and combat climate change.
He pointed out that the fashion industry generates around 140 million tonnes of waste globally, yet less than 25% of it is recycled. He stressed that India must take a leadership role in sustainable textile solutions, as there exists a $400 million potential in this sector.
Bharat Tex 2025 – India’s Largest Textile Expo
PM Modi personally toured the Bharat Tex exhibition, interacting with exhibitors to understand their innovations. The event has attracted over 5,000 exhibitors and 6,000 international buyers.
Bharat Tex 2025 is the biggest and most inclusive textile industry event, featuring an expansive exhibition across two venues that showcases the entire textile value chain. Countries such as Japan, UAE, Iran, USA, Spain, and the UK are actively participating.
The expo also sees representation from 25+ global textile organizations, including the International Textile Manufacturers Federation (ITMF), International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC), EURATEX, Textile Exchange, and the US Fashion Industry Association (USFIA).
This major global event is being held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, from February 14-17, 2025.