The India–UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) has been positioned as a mutually beneficial framework, offering secure, sustainable sourcing and technology partnerships for the United Kingdom, while providing India with enhanced market access, tariff reductions, mutual recognition of standards and improved investor confidence, according to the Indian government.
A high-level delegation led by Neelam Shami Rao, Secretary at the Ministry of Textiles, presented India’s growing strength in the technical textiles sector at a dedicated Technical Textiles Roadshow in Manchester. The initiative emphasised India’s capabilities in innovation-driven and sustainable growth within the industry.
Rao noted that technical textiles are among India’s fastest-growing segments, supported by research and development, advanced manufacturing and circular economy practices. She underlined the country’s emphasis on sustainability, green manufacturing and waste reduction under the National Technical Textiles Mission (NTTM), which is designed to strengthen long-term competitiveness.
She also urged UK retailers and industrial users to collaborate with India’s cost-competitive and innovation-led ecosystem to create resilient and sustainable supply chains.
During the visit, the delegation toured leading innovation centres including the Manchester Fashion Institute at Manchester Metropolitan University and the Graphene Engineering Innovation Centre. Discussions focused on potential partnerships in advanced materials, sustainable technical textiles and circular fashion models.
The Ministry of Textiles stated that flagship initiatives such as the PM MITRA mega textile parks, the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme and the NTTM are building world-class infrastructure and an enabling business environment. It added that, alongside the market access benefits of CETA, India is pursuing its ambition to double textile exports by 2030, while advancing a sustainable and future-ready India–UK textile trade partnership.
