Indian delegation showcases technical textiles in Manchester

A high-level Indian delegation, led by Neelam Shami Rao, secretary, Ministry of Textiles, Government of India, showcased India’s growing strength in the technical textiles sector at a dedicated Technical Textiles Roadshow in Manchester, United Kingdom.

A high-level Indian delegation led by Neelam Shami Rao has showcased India’s technical textiles sector at a Manchester roadshow.
The focus was on sustainability, innovation, and opportunities under CETA. India exported $2.92 billion of technical textiles in FY25. The visit aims to boost UK partnerships, backed by PM MITRA, PLI, and NTTM.
India targets doubling textile exports by 2030.

The delegation included senior officials from the Ministry of Textiles and representatives from the man-made fibre, technical textiles, and other key textile segments, including TEXPROCIL.

Technical textiles are among India’s fastest-growing segments, driven by R&D, advanced manufacturing and circular economy practices, Neelam Shami Rao said in her keynote. She highlighted India’s focus on sustainability, green manufacturing and waste reduction under the National Technical Textiles Mission (NTTM) scheme to strengthen long-term competitiveness.

She noted that the India–UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) creates a win–win framework — offering secure, sustainable sourcing and technology partnerships for the UK, and enhanced market access, tariff reduction, mutual recognition of standards and investor confidence for India. Rao encouraged UK retailers and industrial users to partner with India’s cost-competitive, innovation-led ecosystem to build resilient and sustainable supply chains.

The delegation also visited leading innovation hubs including the Manchester Fashion Institute at Manchester Metropolitan University and the Graphene Engineering Innovation Centre, Manchester, to explore partnerships in advanced materials, sustainable technical textiles and circular fashion models, Ministry of Textiles said in a release.

India exported $2.92 billion worth of technical textiles in fiscal 2025 (FY25), led by Packtech (37.5 per cent) and Indutech (28 per cent), with shipments to the UK totalling $136 million (4.7 per cent share).

The visit is expected to facilitate greater trade opportunities, joint ventures, investment and technology partnerships between India and the UK. Flagship schemes such as PM MITRA mega textile parks, the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme and the NTTM are creating world-class infrastructure and an enabling business environment.

India is advancing its vision to double textile exports by 2030, combined with the market access benefits of CETA, while supporting a mutually beneficial, sustainable and future-ready India–UK textile trade partnership.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (HU)