India Showcases Textiles In London, Pitches CETA Advantage
A high-level Indian textile delegation led by Neelam Shami Rao, Secretary, Ministry of Textiles, is visiting London to showcase India’s strength across the textile value chain and deepen bilateral trade engagement with the United Kingdom.
The delegation, comprising representatives of all major Export Promotion Councils (EPCs) and leading exporters, aims to highlight India’s competitive edge in heritage craftsmanship, modern manufacturing, and sustainable practices.
India is currently the fourth-largest textile exporter to the UK, with shipments worth US$ 2.16 billion in 2024–25, accounting for 6.6% of the UK’s total textile imports. Apparel dominates the export basket with a share of 66.2%, followed by cotton textiles, man-made fibres, handicrafts and carpets.
With an ambitious target to double overall textile exports by 2030, India is banking on sustainability initiatives and enhanced market access under trade agreements such as the recently signed India–UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA).
The London visit began with a Textile Roadshow, jointly organised by the High Commission of India in London and the Ministry of Textiles with EPCs. Addressing the event, Rao underscored India’s ability to serve the UK market with a unique mix of tradition and scale, combined with a strong focus on sustainability and traceability. She noted that India is building resilient and transparent supply chains that align with global consumer expectations.
Indian High Commissioner to the UK, Vikram K. Doraiswami, spoke of the historic relationship between the two nations and emphasised that CETA offers a win–win opportunity for both countries to expand trade, investment and collaboration in the textile sector.
The delegation also held sectoral meetings with UK buyers in handicrafts, handloom and carpets. These discussions centred on promoting India’s Geographical Indication (GI)-tagged products, strengthening sustainability and traceability measures, and building direct buyer–producer linkages. UK buyers responded positively to the initiative and reiterated their intent to increase sourcing from India.
The visit is expected to enhance market access, foster joint investments and bolster the brand positioning of Indian textiles in the UK.
