Union Textiles Minister Giriraj Singh on Wednesday released the ‘India Textiles & Apparel CXO Blueprint 2030,’ a report prepared by the Clothing Manufacturers Association of India (CMAI) and the Global Alliance for Textile Sustainability (GATS). The report was unveiled at the Sustainability & Circularity Impact Pavilion, Hall No. 14, at Bharat Tex 2026.
The Blueprint sets out a strategy for India’s textile and apparel sector to reach $100 billion in exports by 2030, up from exports that have stayed near $40 billion for six straight years.
Singh said the report had been released at an opportune time during Bharat Tex, in the presence of global buyers, and that its findings would serve as a guide for India’s textile ecosystem, with stakeholders standing to benefit from its insights to unlock new growth opportunities and strengthen the sector’s global competitiveness.
Exports Have Stagnated Despite Global Trade Growth
According to the report, India’s textile and apparel exports grew just 0.8% annually over the past six years, compared with 3.5% global trade growth over the same period. India currently ranks as the world’s sixth-largest exporter of textiles and apparel, holding about 4.1% of global trade and employing nearly 45 million people. In apparel specifically, India’s global export share stands at around 3%, trailing Bangladesh (9.5%) and Vietnam (7.3%).
The domestic market is projected to reach $250 billion by 2030. The report argues that converting India’s manufacturing scale into global leadership will require a shift from cost competitiveness to capability competitiveness.
Five Strategic Priorities
The Blueprint identifies five priorities it says must be embedded into enterprise strategy rather than treated as standalone sustainability initiatives:
- Circularity
- End-to-end traceability
- Resource-efficient manufacturing
- Product diversification
- Technology adoption through AI, automation and digital systems
The report notes that an optimised circular textile ecosystem could unlock nearly $9.4 billion in value by recovering textile waste. It also points to new bilateral trade agreements with the EU, UK, UAE, Oman, Australia and New Zealand, along with rising global demand for transparent and sustainable supply chains, as factors strengthening India’s export opportunity. However, it cautions that these advantages will only translate into growth if enterprises are prepared with the right products, documentation, traceability systems and operational capabilities. Nearly 50% of India’s textile and apparel exports currently go to the US and EU, making compliance with emerging sustainability regulations commercially critical.
Industry Reaction
CMAI President Santosh Katariya said, “India has earned global recognition as a manufacturing destination. The next chapter of our growth will depend on how successfully we build capabilities that create greater value for customers and global brands.” He added that the report is “intended to provide industry leaders with a practical roadmap to strengthen competitiveness through innovation, collaboration, sustainability and execution,” and that the goal is “to help Indian enterprises move beyond scale and emerge as trusted global partners.”
Naveen Sainani, Chairman of CMAI’s ESG Committee and Honorary General Secretary, said, “Sustainability is no longer an aspiration—it is becoming central to business competitiveness.” He said the Blueprint “reflects the industry’s transition from discussion to implementation by helping enterprises, particularly MSMEs, understand how sustainability, technology and operational excellence can work together to strengthen resilience and unlock new business opportunities,” adding that the focus is “on enabling practical action that creates long-term value.”
Parvinder Singh, Director of GATS, said, “India has one of the world’s strongest textile manufacturing ecosystems.” He said the opportunity now is “to connect these capabilities through stronger collaboration, knowledge sharing and implementation,” and that the Blueprint “encourages enterprises, clusters and institutions to work as an integrated ecosystem where sustainability and competitiveness reinforce each other, helping India build lasting global leadership.”
Where India Stands Today
The report highlights strengths in India’s existing value chain alongside the case for diversification:
- India has 83.2% domestic value addition in textile and clothing exports, among the deepest integrated value chains globally.
- India holds a 12.3% share of global cotton exports and a 10.5% share of global carpet exports.
- More than 52% of India’s textile exports come from just 134 product categories where India already holds over 10% global export share — a concentration the report says points to the need for diversification into higher-growth segments.
