The Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC) convened a landmark Roundtable on Evolving Global Trade at Le Meridien, New Delhi. The meeting brought together senior government officials , industry stakeholders, buyers, and exporters to deliberate on the fast-changing dynamics of international trade and the future of India’s apparel exports.
The roundtable was graced by the Chief Guest Mr. Lav Agarwal, IAS, Director General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), Ministry of Commerce, Government of India, and Guest of Honour Ms. Manisha Chatterjee, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Textiles, Government of India.
Chairman AEPC Dr. A. Sakthivel highlighted India’s unprecedented achievement of signing Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with countries covering nearly 60% of the world’s population, providing duty-free access to major apparel-importing nations. Reflecting on the industry’s performance, he noted that apparel exports have stagnated at around USD 17 billion for nearly a decade, he urged exporters to rise to the challenge of achieving the government’s ambitious target of USD 40 billion by 2030. “The government has shown the way, and buyers are already visiting factories and assessing capacities. Now it is our part to assure the government and the buying fraternity that we will deliver,” Dr. Sakthivel said.
Chief Guest Mr. Lav Agarwal delivered the keynote address, commending the resilience of the apparel sector in navigating recent global challenges such as tariffs, supply chain disruptions, and geopolitical crises. He described FTAs as a game-changer, urging the industry to scale up and outlined three critical priorities: expanding vertically and horizontally, creating a strong Brand India in apparel, and fostering convergence between government, exporters, and buyers. “Every sixth person in the world is Indian. By that numerical strength alone, we should be preparing a strategy that one-sixth of the global trade should be with us in every sector,” he remarked. Concluding his address, Mr. Agarwal assured exporters of the government’s full support.
Guest of Honour Ms. Manisha Chatterjee emphasized the importance of industry collaboration and feedback in shaping effective policy for India’s apparel sector, particularly in the man-made fibre (MMF) segment. She noted that while India has signed significant FTAs, past experiences show that quality and sustainability remain critical hurdles. “Europe and Japan are very particular about quality and sustainability. To capture these markets, we must work harder to meet their expectations,” she said. Ms. Chatterjee also shared that the Ministry recently held consultations with Indian ambassadors in Europe to explore ways to boost exports, and welcomed further suggestions from industry stakeholders. “Your inputs are extremely valuable. Together, we can ensure that India’s apparel exports reach new heights,” she affirmed.
Industry Voices and Buyer Perspectives enriched the roundtable with candid insights. Mr. V. Elangovan (Elango), head of SNQS International, Tirupur, stressed the urgent need to rebalance India’s fibre mix from cotton-heavy to MMF, citing examples of UK buyers like Primark shifting millions of units from Bangladesh to India. He urged faster policy support through PM MITRA Parks and TUF schemes to scale capacity. Other participants emphasized the need for stronger skill centres, secure financing mechanisms, and wider participation of small and mid-sized exporters. Buyers highlighted persistent challenges in MMF and polyester supply chains, stressing the importance of building capacity, upgrading machinery, and ensuring compliance to meet the scale requirements of global retailers. Industry voices also pointed to India’s advanced fabric capabilities but noted gaps in marketing and global visibility. Start-ups in skilling underscored the importance of speed and agility in scaling workforce capabilities under initiatives such as Samarth 2.0.
All participants reaffirmed their collective resolve to work in unison – government, exporters, and buyers – to strengthen Brand India and position it as a trusted name in global fashion and apparel. Their shared commitment reflects a unified vision to scale capacity, enhance quality, and ensure sustainability, making India a reliable sourcing destination for the world.
