India and Sri Lanka have renewed efforts to strengthen bilateral trade and investment in the textile and apparel sector, with industry stakeholders from both countries exploring opportunities to develop stronger supply-chain linkages. The discussions took place at the India–Sri Lanka Textile Trade Forum held at the BMICH in Colombo on 6 August, on the sidelines of Intex Sri Lanka 2026.
The forum was organised by Worldex India with the support of the High Commission of India and brought together representatives of the textile and apparel industries of the two countries, including leading business chambers and industry bodies.
India’s participation at Intex Sri Lanka 2026 was led by the special ‘Incredible Textiles of India’ Pavilion, supported by leading Export Promotion Councils under the Ministry of Textiles and the Department of Commerce, including the Pharmaceuticals Export Promotion Council of India (PDEXCIL), the Cotton Textiles Export Promotion Council (TEXPROCIL) and the Man-Made Textiles Research Association (MATEXCIL).
More than 80 Indian exhibitors, Export Promotion Councils and industry bodies participated in the exhibition, showcasing capabilities spanning the textile value chain. High Commissioner of India Santosh Jha visited the India Pavilion and interacted with participating Indian exhibitors and industry representatives.
Addressing the Textile Trade Forum, Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development Wasantha Samarasinghe and Deputy Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development Chathuranga Abeysinghe highlighted the opportunities available in Sri Lanka for Indian exporters and investors, particularly in the textile and apparel sector.
Representatives of prominent business chambers, including the Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAF), as well as leading businesses, also participated in the forum, providing an opportunity for direct interaction between industry stakeholders.
High Commissioner Jha highlighted the strength of the India–Sri Lanka commercial partnership and the potential to further expand bilateral trade and investment through stronger supply-chain linkages and industry-to-industry partnerships in textiles.
The textile and apparel sector remains an important component of the economic relationship between India and Sri Lanka. The forum provided a platform for businesses from both countries to explore new areas of cooperation and develop mutually beneficial commercial partnerships.
