Salma Ishrat
India’s technical textile exports have more than tripled over the last decade from ₹8,827 crore in FY 2013–14 to ₹28,392 crore in FY2024-25, while the Centre is pushing to make the nation a global hub for technical textiles through increased investments, research and commercialization, Minister of State for Textiles and External Affairs Pabitra Margherita announced on Tuesday.
Speaking at a national Conference on Technical Textiles – Sportech Bharat Vision 2047 at PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry in New Delhi, the Union minister said the government’s focus on fitness, healthcare and sports through initiatives such as Khelo India, the Fit India Movement and Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) , a flagship program by Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports is driving demand for high-performance sportech products. He said over 180 research projects have been approved under the National Technical Textiles Mission (NTTM), while the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for Textiles has attracted investments of more than ₹5,500 crore. Reiterating the government’s target of achieving $ 100 billion in textile exports and building a $ 350 billion textile market by 2030, he urged industry, academia and research institutions to collaborate to position India as a global leader in technical textiles.
Manisha Chatterjee, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Textiles, remarked the National Technical Textiles Mission has entered a commercialization phase, with the focus shifting from research to market adoption. She said six Sportech research projects and one start-up have been approved under the mission, adding that strengthening testing infrastructure, standardization and support for MSMEs would help reduce India’s dependence on imported high-performance sports textiles.
Speaking at the National Conference, Dr. Harish K. Chatterjee, Director General of Wool Research Association, stated India possesses the right ecosystem to emerge as a global hub for high-performance sports textiles through its strong manufacturing base, expanding synthetic fibre ecosystem, growing start-up landscape and government support.
Debabrata Ghosh, Vice President & Sales Director, Barmag India, said India’s activewear yarn market is projected to grow at a CAGR of over 10% between 2026 and 2035, driven by favourable policy support, the India–UK Free Trade Agreement, and expanding textile infrastructure, while stressing that strengthening domestic manufacturing through advanced bi-component fibre technologies will help reduce import dependence and position India as a global sourcing hub for high-value sportech textiles.
The high-powered panel, featuring experts including Dr. Abhijit Majumdar, Professor of Textile and Fibre Engineering at IIT Delhi, observed that sports has evolved from a niche pursuit into a mainstream cultural and economic force, finding increasing relevance in academia, professional careers, and industry. As a result, Sportstech companies are emerging as key enablers of innovation across the textile value chain. The panellists noted that as premium sportswear brands become more accessible to a wider consumer base, India is well-positioned to emerge as a global market leader by combining quality with competitive pricing. They also pointed out that while China commands the largest share of the global textile industry, it continues to rely heavily on advanced European machinery, whereas countries such as Germany, Japan, and South Korea are scaling back textile manufacturing due to environmental regulations and carbon emission concerns—creating a strategic opportunity for India to strengthen its position in the global sportstech and technical textiles ecosystem.
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