India, Japan Deepen Textile Ties In Tokyo
India’s textile diplomacy received a strategic boost as Union Minister of Textiles, Giriraj Singh, embarked on a high-level visit to Japan, aiming to deepen bilateral collaboration and position India as a key sourcing and manufacturing partner.
During his visit, the Minister engaged with top Japanese industry leaders, including executives from Fast Retailing, Daiso Industries, Stylem Co Ltd, and Workman Co. The interactions underscored growing Japanese interest in India’s textile ecosystem, particularly amid global supply chain realignments.
Speaking at the inauguration of the India Trend Fair 2025 in Tokyo, Singh said, “India offers a robust ecosystem for textile innovation, scale, and sustainability. Japanese investors will receive full support, including state subsidies such as those for labour and electricity.”
India’s garment exports to Japan were valued at US$ 234.5 million in 2024, currently constituting just 1% of Japan’s US$ 23 billion textile import market. However, with shifting dynamics in global trade, India is seen as a strong contender to fill the supply vacuum left by China in the Japanese market.
The India-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), operational since 2011, has already eliminated tariffs on over 94% of traded items, providing a strong foundation for expanded trade. Japan’s bilateral trade with India reached US$ 22.85 billion in FY 2023–24, and Japanese firms are now increasingly exploring long-term investments in India, especially in the PM MITRA Parks and the growing technical textiles segment.
As Japanese companies express interest in setting up manufacturing units in India, stakeholders are now looking toward how India can further adapt its textile innovation capabilities and policy frameworks to align with Japan’s evolving consumer and industrial needs.
