The Indian government has fast-tracked the Market Access Support (MAS) Intervention as a critical buffer for the textile and apparel sector, which is currently grappling with a 50 per cent US tariff hike effective since late 2025. Launched on December 31, 2025, as the first pillar of the Rs 25,060 crore Export Promotion Mission (EPM), the MAS scheme provides a Rs 4,531 crore war chest to diversify India’s apparel footprint beyond traditional Western strongholds. With a mandatory 35 per cent participation quota for MSMEs, the policy is designed to propel small-scale garment manufacturers into emerging high-demand markets like Latin America and Africa.
Financial liquidity and market Reorientation
To counter the ‘challenging year’ described by the Confederation of Indian Textile Industry (CITI), the Ministry of Commerce has paired market access with a Rs 7,295 crore credit package. This includes a 2.75 per cent interest subvention and a Rs 2,114 crore collateral guarantee fund. For textile hubs like Tiruppur, where MSME concentration is high, these measures offer a vital hedge against global headwinds. Small exporters with an annual turnover under Rs 75 lakh are now eligible for partial airfare subsidies, ensuring that the prohibitive cost of international trade fairs no longer stalls the 2030 vision of achieving US$ 100 billion in textile exports.
Digital traceability and global integration
The intervention introduces a mandatory online feedback loop via trade.gov.in, tracking lead generation and buyer quality to refine future trade delegations. This data-driven approach is synchronized with the upcoming Digital Product Passports, aimed at meeting European ESG standards. By shifting from fragmented incentives to a unified, mission-mode framework, India is positioning its apparel sector to leverage zero-duty access through new trade pacts with Australia and the UK. ‘November 2025 data confirms our diversification strategy is already yielding results,’ noted Ashwin Chandran, Chairman, CITI, highlighting the sector's shift toward high-value technical textiles and sustainable MMF apparel.
Export Promotion Mission (EPM) framework The EPM is a Rs 25,060 crore unified trade initiative (2025–2031) targeting labor-intensive sectors like textiles and leather. It integrates financial subventions with market readiness support to boost MSME competitiveness. By consolidating multiple fragmented schemes, the Mission aims to triple India’s textile exports to USD 100 billion by 2030.
