Centre plans district-level export roadmaps, capacity building and facilitation centres to turn textile production hubs into export destinations
The Ministry of Textiles is planning to identify and develop 5,000-10,000 new exporters across districts over the next two to three years as part of a broader push to increase India’s share of the global textile market. The initiative will focus on strengthening district-level export ecosystems and converting production centres into export hubs.
The ministry is working with states on district-level export roadmaps aimed at improving local infrastructure, market linkages, institutional support and export preparedness. The move comes as the government seeks to broaden India’s textile export base beyond established manufacturing and exporting clusters.
Focus On Aspirational And Champion Districts
The initiative will particularly focus on 100 aspirational districts and the bottom 25 districts among the identified champion districts, according to media reports.
Champion districts are those with relatively high exports and established textile ecosystems, while aspirational districts have a comparatively smaller export base but significant potential across segments including handloom, handicrafts, apparel, cotton textiles, man-made fibre products, home textiles and traditional textile clusters.
Among the aspirational districts identified are Bhagalpur in Bihar, Junagadh in Gujarat, Yamunanagar in Haryana, Kozhikode in Kerala and Nanded in Maharashtra. Around 530 districts currently participate in textile exports, according to the report.
The districts have prepared their own export roadmaps based on local requirements, while the Centre is engaging with states to facilitate their implementation.
Capacity Building To Drive New Exporters
A key component of the programme will be capacity building for businesses that have the potential to enter export markets, as well as existing exporters that do not export consistently.
The ministry is also sharing information on global market conditions and best practices with states and districts to help businesses better understand international demand and market requirements.
District-level proposals include the creation of export facilitation centres that can help businesses understand consumer behaviour and international market trends, alongside market-promotion support to take local product portfolios to overseas markets.
Machinery upgrades and showcasing sustainable production capabilities are also emerging as priorities in the district-level plans.
Push To Scale Textile Exports
The exporter expansion plan forms part of the government’s wider strategy to strengthen India’s position in global textile and apparel trade. India exported textiles and apparel, including handicrafts, worth Rs 3.25 lakh crore in 2025-26, up 1.8 per cent from Rs 3.20 lakh crore in 2024-25. Exports were recorded to more than 100 countries during the year.
The government has also set a broader export ambition for the textile sector, with the Ministry of Textiles targeting Rs 9 lakh crore in textile exports by 2030.
Recent policy measures include the Production Linked Incentive scheme for textiles, the PM Mega Integrated Textile Regions and Apparel Parks scheme, the National Technical Textiles Mission and the SAMARTH skill-development programme. The government has also introduced export-support measures under the Export Promotion Mission, including financial and market-access support.
The district-focused approach is therefore intended not only to add new exporters, but also to create the infrastructure, market access and institutional capabilities needed for smaller and emerging textile businesses to participate more consistently in international trade.
