India has the capability to become a hub of technical textiles, geo textiles and manmade fiber.

The country can grow in silk textile export also. For the first time the textile and agriculture ministries have come together to streamline the entire value chain starting from cotton to garment. Branding of Indian textiles is also a focus area, so the global market can acknowledge its capability. The industry is diversifying and focusing on emerging markets.

Currently, 50 per cent of India’s exports are to developed countries. The National Technical Textile Mission is focusing on the emerging sector. At present, the Indian industry is more focused on cotton-based textiles, but manmade fiber and technical textiles also have vast opportunities. The Indian industry will have to scale up its capacity to tap the opportunity created as most global brands are looking for a China Plus One sourcing base.

In the post-Covid world, India is the only country that can substitute China for supplies to global brands but has to invest and build up large-scale capacity for grabbing the opportunity. The PM Mitra and PLI schemes are expected to give a big push to scale up production capacity. The PM Mitra scheme plans to build a textile park of at least 1000 acres.