A high level delegation of India and Afghanistan discussed to explore avenues for deeper economic engagement in the textile sector. Ministry of Textiles said that a high-level delegation from Afghanistan, led by Director General of Economic Relations, Shafiullah Azam, met Trade Advisor of the Textiles Ministry A. Bipin Menon in New Delhi. During the meeting, both sides discussed avenues for mutual cooperation, including technical support and training for Afghan cotton farmers, facilitation of shipments and visas, and closer engagement between industry bodies of both countries. The visiting delegation also articulated Afghanistan’s priority to strengthen its textile ecosystem, create employment opportunities, and enhance training facilities for farmers entering the cotton and textile value chain.
Textile trade relations between the two countries reflect strong complementarities, with India being the second-largest supplier of textiles and apparel to Afghanistan, with exports reaching 68.7 million dollars last year. Afghanistan, which imported USD 742.8 million worth of textiles and apparel from the world in 2024, expressed interest in leveraging India’s expertise as the world’s second-largest cotton producer.
