The session focused on cotton industry priorities: certification, sustainability, traceability, training, and risk management across the value chain.

Key Discussion Points

Cotton Certification and Standards

Emphasis on establishing and adhering to certification frameworks to ensure product credibility.

Linkage to sustainability goals and market requirements.

Sustainability and Traceability.

CITI Endorses Revised PLI 2.0 Scheme for Textiles, Citing Major Industry Benefits

The Confederation of Indian Textile Industry (CITI) has expressed strong support for the government's newly announced Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme 2.0, identifying it as a significant catalyst for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and the broader textile industry.

Noteworthy Enhancements of the Scheme:

More Accessible Investment: The minimum investment thresholds have been lowered to ₹150 crore (Part 1A) and ₹50 crore (Part 2A), making the scheme more inclusive.

Operational Flexibility: The policy permits the establishment of new units within the framework of existing companies.

The Manmade and Technical Textiles Export Promotion Council (MATEXIL) will organize its second edition of the Export Awards for Technical Textiles on November 19, 2025, at NESCO, Mumbai. The ceremony will recognize outstanding export achievements by companies during FY 2023–24 and FY 2024–25.

The event is expected to draw Union Ministers, senior government officials, and leading figures from the technical textiles sector. According to Shaleen Toshniwal, Chairman of MATEXIL, awards will be presented across all 12 technical textile categories—Agrotech, Buildtech, Clothtech, Geotech, Hometech, Indutech, Meditech, Mobiltech, Protech, Packtech, Sportech, and Specialty Fibers.

In addition to these segment-specific honors, two special awards—the MATEXIL Special Award and the Specialty & Innovative Technical Textiles Award—will spotlight innovation and pioneering contributions to the industry.

Technical textiles, high-performance materials engineered for specific functions, are poised to be the major growth engine for India's textile sector. Unlike traditional textiles, these products are used in diverse fields like automotive, healthcare (meditech), infrastructure (geotextiles), and agriculture (agrotech).

India's push for infrastructure development, rising healthcare awareness, and the 'Make in India' initiative are fueling demand. Government schemes, such as the National Technical Textiles Mission, provide crucial support for research, development, and market penetration.

With their value-added nature and higher profitability compared to commodity textiles, technical textiles offer Indian manufacturers a pathway to global competitiveness, powering the next, more sophisticated growth wave for the industry.

Cinte Techtextil China 2025 concluded on September 5 at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre, marking one of its most successful editions yet. Over three days, the event attracted nearly 20,000 visitors from 74 countries, reflecting a 17% growth in attendance and a sharp rise in international participation.

With more than 300 global exhibitors, expanded product categories, and a vibrant fringe program, the fair reaffirmed its position as Asia’s leading platform for technical textiles and nonwovens.

First-time exhibitors praised the event for opening doors to Chinese and global markets, while returning participants highlighted the strong demand for innovative and sustainable solutions.

Ashwin Chandran takes over as CITI Chairman
Dinesh Nolkha is new CITI Deputy Chairman
Shreyaskar Chaudhary becomes CITI Vice Chairman.

Ashwin Chandran has taken over as the new Chairman of the Confederation of Indian Textile Industry (CITI) starting September 18, 2025. Shri Chandran takes over the chairmanship from Rakesh Mehra whose term ended on September 18 following the conclusion of CITI’s 67th AGM which was held during the day. Dinesh Nolkha would become the new Deputy Chairman of CITI. Shreyaskar Chaudhary will take over as the new Vice Chairman of CITI.

US tariff hike hits Indian garments: Ind-Ra 
India's apparel exports are likely to take a hit due to the recent 50% US tariff hike, with potential revenue losses of 6-9% in FY2025-26. The US and European markets account for a significant portion of India's apparel exports, with the US being the largest destination, representing 33-34% of total exports.
Key Impacts:
Financial Pressure: Profit margins are expected to contract by 200-300 basis points as exporters absorb some of the tariff costs.
Loose Competitiveness*: Indian garments become pricier than those from countries like Bangladesh and Vietnam, which face lower tariffs.
Dominant Markets: The US and EU remain top destinations for Indian apparel exports.

The National Technical Textiles Mission (NTTM), launched by India’s Ministry of Textiles for 2020–26 with an outlay of ₹1,480 crore, aims to position the country as a global leader in technical textiles. Its focus spans innovation, commercialization, exports, skills, infrastructure, and standardization.

The mission is built on four core pillars.

Research & Innovation funds R&D, prototype development, advanced fibres, and sustainable materials to translate lab concepts into market-ready solutions.

Promotion & Market Development expands domestic demand through trade fairs, buyer-seller meets, and cross-sector linkages in agriculture, health, and infrastructure.

Startups are becoming a vital force in India's burgeoning technical textiles sector. They're driving innovation and creating specialized, high-performance fabrics for a wide range of industries, from healthcare to defense. Unlike traditional textile manufacturers, these agile startups are focused on research and development, exploring novel materials and production techniques. This focus helps them develop products like smart textiles, protective gear, and advanced geotextiles that are essential for modern infrastructure.
The Indian government, recognizing this potential, is actively supporting these ventures through initiatives like the National Technical Textiles Mission (NTTM). Under the Grant for Research and Entrepreneurship across Aspiring Innovators in Technical Textiles (GREAT) scheme, the government provides financial assistance to help startups translate their prototypes into commercial products. This support is crucial for bridging the gap between innovative ideas and market-ready solutions. As these startups grow, they not only contribute to India's self-reliance (Atmanirbhar Bharat) but also position the country as a global hub for technical textile innovation.

India’s technical textiles sector presents a rapidly expanding addressable market driven by innovation, policy support, and rising domestic and global demand. With applications spanning healthcare, infrastructure, mobility, agriculture, defense, and environmental sustainability, this segment is evolving beyond traditional textiles into high-performance, technology-driven solutions.

Government initiatives such as the National Technical Textiles Mission, Production-Linked Incentives, and quality standardization measures are accelerating growth while attracting investments and R&D collaborations.

Increasing awareness of advanced materials, coupled with India’s strong manufacturing base, positions the country to capture significant market share globally. As industries embrace automation, smart fabrics, and sustainable practices, the technical textiles market is set to become a cornerstone of India’s vision for a modern, competitive, and innovation-led textile economy.

GST centimeter

TEXPROCIL has expressed strong approval of recent Goods and Services Tax (GST) reforms, calling them a major relief for the textile value chain.

These reforms, effective from September 22, 2025, introduce a simplified 5% GST rate across the entire man-made textile value chain, correcting previous "inverted duty structure" and making Indian textiles more competitive globally.

This change aims to reduce costs, stabilize pricing, ease working capital pressures for businesses, and boost investment and growth in the sector, according to the Council.

AEPC welcomes the Government’s latest #GST reforms. The GST reforms announced by the Government marks a big step in making India a developed economy.