Opportunity to boost textile trade between the United States and India is on the horizon. Renewed optimism for positive collaboration in political and trade arenas is emerging. A positive happening in the relationship between India and United States with the collaboration of two major international professional bodies in the textiles sector is resulting in a major conference in Coimbatore, India in November.
American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists (AATCC) and The Textile Association-South India Unit in a timely fashion is organizing a major international conference that will focus on the opportunities and challenges in technical and trade aspects in the textile city, Coimbatore on November 21 and 22, 2025.
The ongoing tariff tensions between the two major nations have received international attention. It is hoped that a win-win trade deal will be accomplished soon. Recent social media postings by President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi express the positive sentiments between the two leaders and the need to negotiate a win-win bilateral trade agreement soon. This is a major development and will lead to renewed cooperation between the nations, boosting goodwill, trade, and cooperation.
As United States and India are negotiating their new agreement, it is important for stakeholders to engage in a positive way to create opportunities.
Textiles sector occupies a leading position in export trade from India. Textiles sector provides jobs in a large scale in India in organized and unorganized sectors. Indian government is supporting this sector as it is a critical component in the growth equation for India. It is vital that good cooperation exists between nations as well as stakeholders in the textiles sector.
It is hoped that a trade agreement will be reached soon between the United States and India and well before the conference. It is a welcoming feature to have an international gathering coordinated as a collaborative event between the two nations focusing on entire globe. Such an effort shows that stakeholders are keen to strengthen cooperation and friendship between global nations.
Topics include cotton, development in synthetics, trade opportunities, new developments across the supply chain, marketing opportunities. The event will happen in Coimbatore which is in proximity to major textile manufacturing regions such as Tiruppur, Erode and Karur.
Gregg Woodcock, Executive Director of AATCC and John Crocker of SDL Atlas will be participating in the event from the United States.
“AATCC is proud to partner with The Textile Association (India), South India Unit, in support of the international conference in Coimbatore. We look forward to sharing with the Indian textile industry the benefits of AATCC membership and ways that AATCC can assist individual members and member companies with standards development, testing materials, educational resources and more, in the pursuit of sustainable textile manufacturing,” stated Gregg Woodcock.
Indian industry can interact face to face with Woodcock who represents AATCC which has global brands and major manufacturers like Under Armour, Nike, and Patagonia as members.
“We are pleased that TAI-South India Unit is providing an international platform for stakeholders across the textile value chain to reengage in positive collaborations to grow the industry and trade,” stated K. Gandhiraj, Vice Chairman of TAI-Central Office.
“After times of uncertainty, there is an immediate need to rebuild confidence in the industry and create new opportunities in textile trade,” stated R. Seenivasahan, Vice President of TAI-SIU.
The conference organizers are hoping that major associations in the field of cotton, synthetics, leading R & organizations will participate.
When a new trade deal is reached between the United States and India, AATCC-TAI (SIU) organized event is first of its kind to bring stakeholders to a vibrant textile region in the world for growing the business and exchange ideas.
The conference will set a global stage for strengthening friendships and growth opportunities in textiles. Global participants from Europe and elsewhere will be able to see firsthand the textile activities in India and interact with industry partners. Such a global platform is needed to rebuild confidence and engage with India, which is a major global textile manufacturing hub.
Entrepreneurs, industry, and academia should use this timely opportunity to engage and enable renewed trade and discuss challenges and opportunities.
Details of the conference are available at: https://textileassociationsouthindia.com
By: Seshadri Ramkumar, Professor, Texas Tech University, USA
