India and Australia will collaborate in the textile, clothing and fashion sectors. Appropriate measures will be identified to connect the Australian and Indian textile and fashion sectors; promote collaboration and international engagement between those sectors; nurture the skills and talents within those sectors; promote economic opportunities and encourage professional engagement, training, skill development and public exhibition of products derived from these sectors in the two countries. However, Intellectual Property Rights of either side will stand protected.

For overall development of the handloom sector, the initiative aims to increase handloom fabric production by way of establishing market linkages, encouraging innovation in designs and techniques for improvement in design capability, diversification of product lines and value addition, facilitating better access to domestic and export markets so that weavers are able to get continuous employment and improve their living standards.

Australia is emerging as an important market for Indian textiles and handicrafts. Australian fashion designers are interested in working with the textile and handloom sectors in India. Major department stores in Australia source from India.

Exports of Indian handicrafts to Australia have been only 1.31 per cent of India’s total exports of handicrafts. Australia is a small but high-end market where buyers are willing to pay for quality.