Rajeev Gupta

Bharat Tex 2025 was truly a watershed moment for India's textile industry. Sitting in the auditorium among fellow industry leaders, listening to Hon'ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji's address, I experienced a profound sense of pride and purpose for our industry's future. The Prime Minister's vision of transforming India's textile sector resonated deeply with our mission at RSWM Limited. His emphasis on the 5F approach - Farm, Fiber, Fabric, Fashion, and Foreign markets - perfectly aligns with our industry's growth trajectory. When he spoke about India's textile exports reaching ₹3 lakh crore and targeting ₹9 lakh crore by 2030, it reinforced the magnitude of opportunity before us. What particularly struck me was his focus on sustainability and innovation.   As he walked through the exhibition (including past our stall), his appreciation for India's textile heritage while emphasizing modern technologies and sustainable practices echoed our own Panchtatva philosophy at RSWM. Two aspects of his address particularly resonated with me: First, his emphasis on turning the challenge of "fast fashion waste" into an opportunity. With the global recycled textile market projected to reach $7.5 billion, this aligns perfectly with our sustainability initiatives at RSWM. Second, his call for collaboration between industry and institutions like IITs for technological innovation. This validates our recent partnerships, including our graphene technology development initiatives. The Prime Minister's announcement about the Mission for Cotton Productivity and focus on technical textiles opens new avenues for growth. As I reflect on his words about India's textile industry being crucial to our journey towards Viksit Bharat, I feel both humbled and motivated. At RSWM, we are committed to playing our part in this transformation. Indeed, as Modi ji said, "Bharat Tex is becoming a mega global textile event." Being part of this historic moment, alongside my colleagues, reinforces our belief in India's textile future. #bharattex2025 #makeinindia #textileindustry #sustainability #rswm #viksitbharat Picture credits Textile Insights

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The Union Budget 2025 marks a calculated shift from expenditure to consumption-driven growth which seems like a master stroke to fuel domestic demand amid the current global tarrif concerns and slowdown. This budget arrives at a critical juncture. While consumption focus promises domestic resilience, we're entering a phase where opportunities and difficulties will walk hand in hand. The reality is stark yet promising. The businesses that will flourish aren't necessarily the largest or most established - they'll be the lean and fit ones. Those who can adapt quickly, operate efficiently, and spot opportunities in challenges. It's time to trim the excess and strengthen our core. In this economic climate, agility isn't just an advantage - it's survival. #UnionBudget2025 #EconomicGrowth #Leadership

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At the Textile Leaders’ Conclave 2025 jointly organised by JITO Ahmedabad and CII Gujarat last Saturday, I emphasized the importance of looking at textiles as a national priority. Our domestic market is booming, and global demand is shifting towards India. This is the moment to not just participate in but lead the value chain and win the global textile game. India’s textile ecosystem has never been more promising, powered by robust market demand, supportive policies, and effective governance. This combination is rare and it’s our window to unlocking rapid, large-scale growth in textiles and apparel. Gujarat is poised to be the engine of this next phase for India’s textile sector. The future is about value-added manufacturing moving up from yarn to fashion, from volume to value. But global leadership calls for more: we need bold bets, big thinking, risk taking, and a culture of innovation. We must inspire and attract our youth to see textiles as tomorrow’s sunrise sector, a field where big dreams can thrive. To truly scale, we must decentralize. Taking textile manufacturing beyond comfort zones into new, untapped regions means more jobs, more growth, and real inclusion. Our path forward rests on three strategic imperatives: •⁠ ⁠Expand garmenting capacity •⁠ ⁠Embrace man-made fibres alongside cotton •⁠ ⁠Ensure speed and sustainability This is how we can become truly competitive and climate-resilient, and help India become Viksit Bharat by 2047. Confederation of Indian Industry CII Western Region JITO Ahmedabad #ViksitBharat #Textiles #MakeInIndia #IndiaAt100 #FutureReady

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Can India’s Apparel Sector Seize the Opportunity Offered by Recent Geopolitical Changes? India's apparel industry faces a critical question: Can it leverage recent geopolitical shifts to strengthen its position in the global market? The political unrest in Bangladesh, which began on August 5, 2024, created a window of opportunity for Indian garment exporters. However, an analysis of India's 2024 export data reveals that we failed to capitalize on this shift—primarily due to limited production scale and capacity, preventing Indian garment manufacturers from meeting global demand. A look at the past decade’s trends further underscores this challenge. The Success Story: Made-ups Sector: While the apparel industry struggles, Bed Linen & Home Linen manufacturers have shown a consistent growth over the past decade. What sets them apart? Full control over their value chain, ensuring efficiency from production to final delivery—whether to retailers or brands. Several of India's largest mills in this sector continue to operate with healthy profit margins. Their heavy investments in automation, particularly in hemming (forward integration), have made them self-sufficient, eliminating reliance on external stitching vendors for their finished products. This strategic independence allows them to scale rapidly and remain globally competitive. Apparel Fabric Mill Sector: The Missed Opportunity Unlike the Home Textile manufacturers that have embraced vertical integration, apparel fabric mills have largely refrained from incorporating garment manufacturing into their operations. This hesitation stems primarily from the high labor intensity involved and the complexities of stringent labor laws, particularly those governing formal labour employment. Once having hired, you cannot fire! However, this reluctance presents significant hurdles in terms of cost efficiency, scalability, and global competitiveness. Without forward integration, apparel fabric mills remain reliant on third-party garment manufacturers, limiting their ability to streamline production, optimize pricing, and strengthen their competitive edge in the international market. If India is to establish itself as a dominant player in the global apparel market, it must adopt a more aggressive approach toward manufacturing. Apparel fabric mills must invest in forward integration, leveraging automation and economies of scale to strengthen their position. Strategic investments in garment production can unlock untapped potential, allowing India’s apparel sector to compete on equal footing with global manufacturing hubs.

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Hwaseung Group's ₹1,720 Crore Footwear Plant A Game-Changer for Tamil Nadu ​Description: South Korea-based Hwaseung Group is setting up its first footwear plant in Tamil Nadu with a massive ₹1,720 crore investment. This marks a significant milestone in boosting the state's manufacturing sector and creating new job opportunities #HwaseungGroup #TamilNadu #Investment #Manufacturing #FootwearIndustry #EconomicGrowth

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The recent decision by the United States to impose a 26% tariff on Indian textiles and apparel has sparked concerns within India’s export community. As one of the largest exporters of textiles to the U.S., India is now facing the challenge of sustaining its market share under a new tariff regime. However, when compared to the tariff increases on regional competitors, Bangladesh (37%) and Vietnam (45%), could this shift in trade policy be a blessing in disguise for India? Impact of US Tariffs on India and Its Competitors: India has long been a key player in the global textile and apparel sector, with the U.S. being one of its largest markets. In 2023, India exported approximately USD 9.6 billion worth of textiles to the U.S. The newly imposed 26% tariff undoubtedly increases the cost burden on Indian exporters, making it harder to compete in terms of pricing. However, a comparative analysis of the tariff impact on competitors in the region reveals a different perspective: Bangladesh: The U.S. has imposed a 37% tariff on Bangladeshi textiles and apparel, making their products even more expensive in the American market than India’s. Vietnam: Facing a hefty 45% tariff, Vietnam’s textile sector is likely to take the biggest hit, leading to significant shifts in global sourcing strategies. While these tariff hikes are detrimental to all three countries, India remains in a relatively better position due to its comparatively lower tariff rate. This creates a unique opportunity for Indian textile exporters to capture the market share that Bangladesh and Vietnam may lose due to their higher cost burdens. Could This Be a Boon for India’s Textile Industry? Although the U.S. tariff hike presents an immediate challenge for Indian textile exporters, it also offers an opportunity for India to strengthen its position in the global textile supply chain. With higher tariffs imposed on key competitors like Bangladesh and Vietnam, Indian manufacturers stand a chance to enhance their presence in the U.S. market—provided they take proactive measures to remain competitive. In the evolving trade landscape, adaptability, innovation, and strategic planning will be the key drivers for India’s textile sector. By turning these challenges into growth opportunities, India can reinforce its status as a global textile powerhouse.

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Cotton Import Duty Removed Till Sept 30 – A Big Boost for Textile Industry This decision will surely bring relief to spinning mills, fabric makers, and exporters by lowering raw material costs and improving competitiveness in global markets. It also helps India show goodwill in ongoing trade talks. But the flip side is that farmers and CCI may struggle if imported cotton drags prices below MSP. 👉 For Cotton Insights, Yarn Sourcing & Quick Updates, Contact: Amit – 9810049740

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India’s textile industry has always been rooted in craft and heritage. Today, it’s also about scale, speed, and global relevance. In Apparel Views, JD. Giri, Director at Shahi, looks at what’s driving export growth 📈, where policy is making a difference 📃, and what India needs to do to stay competitive 💪. The culture behind our textiles is unmatched. The question now is: can we turn that into long-term leadership? 👁️ Read More Here:  https://lnkd.in/gtzZkAHG #Textiles #Leadership #GlobalMarket #Exports

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