Parliament Question: Strategy to increase exports to emerging markets

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TEXTILES RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-1758 ANSWERED ON- 13/02/2026 STRATEGY TO INCREASE EXPORTS TO EMERGING MARKETS 1758. SMT. SEEMA DWIVEDI: SHRI KESRIDEVSINH JHALA: SHRI NARHARI AMIN: Will the Minister of TEXTILES be pleased to state: (a) whether the Ministry has formulated a strategy to increase exports to emerging markets such as the UAE and Australia beyond the current share by leveraging the Free Trade Agreements (FATs) signed in 2022; (b) if so, the details thereof; and (c) the steps being taken to help Indian textile exporters meet international green and sustainability standards? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR TEXTILES (SHRI PABITRA MARGHERITA) (a) & (b): Under the India—Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (Ind-Aus ECTA), which came into effect on 29th December 2022, Australia has provided preferential market access on 100% of its tariff lines to India. All Indian exports to Australia enter at zero duty from 1st January 2026. The India– UAE (United Arab Emirates) CEPA (Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement), implemented from 1st May 2022 provides preferential market access to majority of lines. India’s textile & Apparel including Handicrafts exports to UAE stood at US$ 2156.24 million in 2024-25 exhibiting a growth of 6.8% compared to US$ 2019.41 million in 2023-24 and India’s textile & Apparel including Handicrafts exports to Australia stood at US$ 732.06 million in 2024-25 exhibiting a growth of 10.9% compared to US$ 659.99 million in 2023-24. The Government is implementing various schemes/initiatives to boost the Indian textile and apparel sector and enhance its competitiveness from Country. The major schemes/initiatives include PM Mega Integrated Textile Regions and Apparel (PM MITRA) Parks Scheme to create a modern, integrated, world class textile infrastructure; Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme focusing on MMF Fabric, MMF Apparel and Technical Textiles to boost large scale manufacturing and enhancing competitiveness; National Technical Textiles Mission focusing on Research Innovation & Development, Promotion and Market Development; SAMARTH – Scheme for Capacity Building in Textile Sector with the objective providing demand driven, placement oriented, skilling program; Silk Samagra-2 for comprehensive development of sericulture value chain; National Handloom Development Program for end to end support for handloom sector. Ministry of Textiles is also implementing National Handicrafts Development Programme and Comprehensive Handicrafts Cluster Development Scheme for promotion of handicrafts. The Government is also administering the two remission schemes of Rebate of State and Central Taxes and Levies (RoSCTL) for Apparel/Garments and Made-ups and the Remissions of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products (RoDTEP) Scheme for other textiles products.(c): The Ministry has constituted an Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Task Force to engage in deliberations with industry stakeholders to ascertain the current status and issues being faced in adopting sustainable production models. The Government, under the National Handloom Development Program, through its two components, namely ‘Mega Cluster Development Programme’ and ‘Need based Special Infrastructural Projects’ is providing financial assistance for promotion of natural/vegetable dyes and setting up of Dye houses. The Government has launched India Handloom Brand (IHB) initiative for branding of high quality handloom products with zero defects and zero effect on the environment. ****