The 12th edition of the Asian Textile Conference (ATEXCON 2025), organized by the Confederation of Indian Textile Industry (CITI), successfully concluded today at the Courtyard by Marriott, Mumbai. Gherzi, a leading global textile consulting firm, served as the official knowledge partner for the event, which brought together industry leaders, policymakers, and experts to explore Asia’s growing influence in the global textile sector.
Asia’s dominance in textile manufacturing
Asia remains the backbone of the global textile and apparel sector, playing a crucial role across the value chain. The region contributes approximately 63 per cent of the world’s total cotton production and an overwhelming 90 per cent of global man-made fiber (MMF) production, positioning it as the largest supplier of raw materials. Additionally, with around 90 per cent of the world’s total spinning capacity and 85 per cent of global knitting capacity, Asia continues to be the world's leading textile manufacturing base.
ATEXCON 2025 emphasized the need for Asian economies to enhance value addition and increase unit value realization (UVR) in exports. In his welcome address, Rakesh Mehra, Chairman of CITI, stressed that while boosting export volumes is essential, the focus should also be on manufacturing high-value products. “Exporting high-value products with greater UVR should be a priority for all Asian countries,” he stated, underlining the significance of strategic growth to maintain competitiveness in global markets.
Strategic industry initiatives and policy discussions
The conference witnessed the release of two key documents aimed at shaping the future of India’s textile and apparel (T&A) sector. The ‘5-Point Agenda for the Indian T&A Industry (2025-26)’ outlines crucial policy interventions required to achieve India’s export target for 2025-26 and drive the industry towards $100 billion in exports by 2030. Another major announcement was the ‘Code of Conduct for Prevention of Child Labour and Forced Labour in the Indian Textile Industry,’ a voluntary commitment endorsed by AEPC, CITI, Indian Technical Textile Association (ITTA), SIMA, TEA, CMAI, MATEXCIL, PDEXCIL, and TEXPROCIL to ensure ethical practices across the textile value chain.
Key sessions at ATEXCON 2025 addressed pressing industry challenges and future opportunities. The theme session, ‘Asia Steering Global Growth,’ highlighted the region’s strategic position in global textile markets and the necessity for collaborative growth. Other discussions focused on trade dynamics, policy shifts, and technological disruptions. David Uricoli, Partner at Gherzi USA, moderated a session on evolving trade policies and geopolitical shifts, while Siddharth Rajagopal, Executive Director of TEXPROCIL, led discussions on enhancing Asia’s global competitiveness.
Another significant session, moderated by Suryadeb Mukherjee of Gherzi Consulting, explored the transformative impact of AI, automation, and digital tools on textile manufacturing and sustainability. S K Sundararaman, Chairman of SIMA, examined growth opportunities in technical textiles, including medical, automotive, and geotextiles. Rahul Mehta, Chief Mentor at the Clothing Manufacturers Association of India (CMAI), moderated a discussion on shifting consumer preferences, circular fashion, and the future of fashion trends.
Key takeaways and future roadmap
The conference underscored Asia’s role as the global hub for textile production and innovation, with an increasing emphasis on sustainability, digitization, and policy alignment. As businesses navigate a rapidly evolving landscape, insights from ATEXCON 2025 are expected to guide the industry toward a more resilient and future-ready approach.
The event concluded with a valedictory session that summarized key takeaways and laid the groundwork for future collaborations, ensuring that Asia continues to drive global textile growth through innovation, sustainability, and strategic partnerships.
