The Clothing Manufacturers Association of India (CMAI) and the Global Alliance for Textile Sustainability (GATS) unveiled the “India Textiles & Apparel CXO Blueprint 2030” at Bharat Tex 2026, presenting a strategic roadmap aimed at strengthening India’s global competitiveness and supporting the country’s target of achieving USD 100 billion in textile and apparel exports by 2030.
The report was released by Shri Giriraj Singh, Hon’ble Minister of Textiles, Government of India, at the Sustainability & Circularity Impact Pavilion (Hall No. 14) during the four-day textile exhibition.
Speaking at the launch, the Union Minister said the report had been released at an important time during Bharat Tex, with global buyers present at the event. He noted that its findings would provide valuable guidance for the textile ecosystem and help stakeholders identify new opportunities to enhance India’s competitiveness in international markets.
Roadmap for Future Growth
The India Textiles & Apparel CXO Blueprint 2030 outlines strategic priorities for textile manufacturers, brands, policymakers and industry leaders as global markets increasingly focus on sustainability, traceability, innovation and technology-driven manufacturing.
According to the report, India currently accounts for approximately 4.1% of global textile and apparel trade, despite being the world’s sixth-largest exporter and employing nearly 45 million people. While exports have remained around USD 40 billion over the past six years, the report highlights the need for capability-driven growth rather than relying solely on manufacturing scale.
It also projects India’s domestic textile and apparel market to reach USD 250 billion, making capability development essential for future expansion.
Circular Economy Could Unlock USD 9.4 Billion
One of the report’s major findings is the significant opportunity presented by circularity.
It estimates that an optimised circular textile ecosystem could generate nearly USD 9.4 billion in value by recovering and reusing textile waste, reducing resource consumption and supporting sustainable manufacturing.
The report also notes that nearly half of India’s textile and apparel exports are destined for the United States and European Union, making compliance with evolving sustainability regulations increasingly important for exporters.
Five Strategic Priorities
The Blueprint identifies five interconnected areas that will shape India’s competitiveness over the coming decade:
- Circularity
- End-to-end traceability
- Resource-efficient manufacturing
- Product diversification
- Technology adoption through artificial intelligence, automation and digital systems
The report emphasises that these priorities should be integrated into long-term business strategies rather than treated as standalone sustainability initiatives.
Industry Leaders Highlight Capability Building
Santosh Katariya, President, CMAI, said India’s next phase of growth will depend on developing stronger capabilities that create greater value for global customers and brands.
He said the Blueprint is intended to provide a practical roadmap for enterprises to improve competitiveness through innovation, sustainability, collaboration and effective execution, helping Indian manufacturers become trusted global partners.
Naveen Sainani, Chairman – ESG Committee and Honorary General Secretary, CMAI, said sustainability has become central to business competitiveness and that the report aims to help enterprises, particularly MSMEs, implement practical measures combining sustainability, technology and operational excellence.
Parvinder Singh, Director, GATS, said India already possesses one of the world’s strongest textile manufacturing ecosystems. He added that greater collaboration, knowledge sharing and coordinated implementation across the industry can strengthen sustainability while improving global competitiveness.
Sustainability at the Centre of Export Strategy
The report highlights that India’s competitive position is being strengthened by changing global sourcing strategies and recent bilateral trade agreements with the European Union, United Kingdom, UAE, Oman, Australia and New Zealand.
However, it cautions that these opportunities can only be fully realised if companies are prepared with stronger traceability systems, sustainability compliance, product innovation and digital capabilities.
The launch event was attended by several industry leaders and sustainability experts, including Dr. Naresh Tyagi, Sunder Belani, Manoj Wanvari, Rahul Mehta, Naveen Sainani, Anand Golecha, and other representatives from the textile industry.
