Department of Commerce and AEPC Highlight Opportunities for Expanding India's Global Apparel Trade Footprint
Jaipur, June 9, 2026: As the Government of India completes 12 years of sustained efforts towards strengthening trade, exports and industrial growth under the leadership of Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, the Department of Commerce, Government of India, and the Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC) today organised a regional media briefing in Jaipur on the theme, "Strengthening India's Position in Global Apparel Trade: Opportunities, Challenges and the Way Forward."
The briefing brought together senior government officials, industry leaders, exporters and media representatives to deliberate on India's growing role in the global apparel value chain and Jaipur's emergence as one of the country's most dynamic apparel export hubs.
Over the past decade, India has witnessed a remarkable transformation in infrastructure development, logistics connectivity, ease of doing business, digitalisation, manufacturing competitiveness and sustainability initiatives. These reforms have strengthened India's position as a trusted global sourcing destination and created new opportunities for export-oriented sectors, including apparel and textiles.
Jaipur, renowned globally for its rich textile heritage, craftsmanship and entrepreneurial ecosystem, has emerged as Rajasthan's leading apparel export cluster, contributing nearly 86 per cent of the state's ready-made garment exports. The city has successfully blended traditional strengths with modern manufacturing capabilities, enabling exporters to cater to major international markets across North America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia-Pacific.
Welcoming the participants, Mr. Rakshit Poddar, President, Garment Exporters Association of Rajasthan (GEAR) and Executive Committee Member, AEPC, highlighted Jaipur's growing significance in India's export ecosystem. He noted that the city's exporters have continuously adapted to evolving global market requirements while preserving the region's unique design identity and craftsmanship traditions.
Addressing the gathering, Mr. Aseem Kumar, Executive Committee Member, AEPC, emphasised that India's apparel sector has emerged as a major contributor to employment generation, foreign exchange earnings and inclusive economic growth. He underlined the importance of continued investments in skilling, technology adoption, sustainability compliance and infrastructure development to enhance India's competitiveness in international markets.
Delivering the keynote address, Mr. Agrim Kaushal, Senior Economic Advisor, Department of Commerce, Government of India, outlined the Government's vision of making India a global textile and apparel powerhouse through the Prime Minister's 5F vision of "Farm to Fibre, Fibre to Factory, Factory to Fashion and Fashion to Foreign." He highlighted key initiatives such as the PLI Scheme for Textiles, PM MITRA Mega Textile Parks, the National Technical Textiles Mission, and export support measures that have strengthened India's textile value chain and global competitiveness.
Mr. Kaushal also underlined the opportunities arising from India's expanding network of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) and the recently launched Export Promotion Mission (EPM) aimed at supporting MSMEs and new exporters. Emphasising Jaipur's strengths as a major textile and apparel hub, he said the city's strong MSME ecosystem, rich textile heritage and growing manufacturing capabilities position it to play a significant role in India's future export growth.
The discussions focused on India's emergence as a preferred global sourcing destination amid changing international supply chains and growing efforts by global brands to diversify sourcing bases. Participants observed that India is uniquely positioned to benefit from these shifts owing to its large manufacturing base, skilled workforce, robust entrepreneurial ecosystem and strong policy support.
The briefing also highlighted the significant opportunities arising from recently concluded and ongoing trade agreements, which are expected to improve market access for Indian exporters and enhance the country's global competitiveness.
A detailed presentation was delivered by Mr. Agrim Kaushal, Senior Economic Advisor, Department of Commerce, Government of India, highlighting Jaipur’s contribution to India’s apparel export growth and outlining key strategies for further strengthening the city’s position in global markets. The presentation emphasised the importance of infrastructure development, logistics efficiency, sustainability, digital transformation, product diversification, innovation, skill enhancement and greater support for MSMEs to enhance India’s export competitiveness.
The interaction reaffirmed AEPC's commitment to working closely with the Government of India and industry stakeholders to enhance export competitiveness, create employment opportunities and strengthen India's position in the global apparel value chain.
As India progresses towards its vision of becoming a developed nation by 2047, the apparel and textile sector is expected to play a pivotal role in driving export growth, generating large-scale employment and supporting inclusive economic development. Jaipur, with its strong manufacturing ecosystem, skilled workforce and globally recognised textile heritage, is poised to remain at the forefront of this growth journey.
The event concluded with a vote of thanks by Mr. Ravi Poddar, Executive Committee Member, AEPC, followed by an interactive session with members of the media.