The future of the textile industry is brimming with potential, and India is poised to play a pivotal role. With the recent UK-India FTA and Singapore CECA agreements, the stage is set for collaborative growth, investment, and sourcing opportunities in textiles and textile machinery.
On October 29, 2025, in Singapore, the India ITME Society hosted an exclusive event titled "Fabricating the Future of Textile Industry: From Heritage to High-Tech." This gathering brought together key stakeholders, including textile officials, entrepreneurs, and industry experts, to explore the exciting possibilities within India's textile and textile engineering sectors.
But here's where it gets controversial...
The event, held on the sidelines of CITME+ASIA Singapore, aimed to foster partnerships and showcase India's potential as a global textile hub. With a rapidly growing domestic market of over 1.4 billion consumers, India presents a dynamic and lucrative opportunity for investment and collaboration.
Mr. Rohit Kansal, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Textiles, highlighted India's position as a top global hub for weaving and knitting machinery installations. He emphasized the country's strong expansion across the fabric and apparel value chain, positioning it as the most promising destination for textile machinery investment in the coming decade.
Under Mr. Kansal's leadership, the Indian textile and engineering industry delegation engaged with counterparts from various associations, including the British Textile Machinery Association (BTMA), Taiwan Association of Machinery Industry (TAMI), and more.
H.E. Dr. Shilpak Ambule, High Commissioner of India to Singapore, observed that Singapore is India's 6th largest trade partner and the largest in ASEAN. The relationship between the two countries in the textile sector is characterized by India's role as a major garment supplier and Singapore's position as a distribution, design, and retail hub.
Mr. Hemant Sharma, President of Polyester at Reliance Industries Ltd., represented the Indian textile sector and spoke about the industry's pivotal role in driving India's manufacturing growth, creating jobs, boosting exports, and fostering innovation. With strong policy support and an entrepreneurial spirit, the sector is poised to become a global leader, serving as a responsible, resilient, and trusted sourcing hub for textiles, contributing to India's ambitious goal of achieving a $30 trillion economy by 2047.
The recently signed UK-BTMA agreement garnered significant interest, and Mr. Jason Kent, CEO of the British Textile Machinery Association, emphasized the importance of the UK-India FTA as a once-in-a-generation opportunity. He highlighted how the FTA creates a platform for collaboration, bringing together India's manufacturing prowess and digital talent with the UK's excellence in design, research, and sustainability.
Mr. Sanghvi, Chairman of the India ITME Society, pointed out that the Indian market's robust economy is evident in the 25% increase in spending during the Diwali festival in 2025 compared to 2024, which amounted to USD 47.22 billion. He believes that the textile and textile engineering industries can weave a future of prosperity, sustainability, and inclusivity for all.
Mr. Sanghvi reconfirmed the India ITME Society's commitment to continuing the dialogue and facilitating business at India ITME 2026, the most relevant textile engineering business event in Southeast Asia, to be held in India from December 4th to 9th, 2026, at IEML, Greater Noida.
For those interested in participating in India ITME 2026, you can register at https://india-itme.com/#/userRegistration. For more information, visit https://corporate.india-itme.com/itme2026/.
Dr. Seema Srivastava, Executive Director, India ITME Society - Singapore, October 29, 2025.
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