Marking a significant step in expanding India-Japan textile trade, Giriraj Singh, Union Textiles Minister, inaugurated the 16th India Tex Trend Fair (ITTF) in Tokyo, Japan, on July 15, 2025. To conclude on July 17, the event serves as a key platform to showcase India’s rich textile heritage and apparel innovations to Japanese buyers.
Organized collaboratively by the Embassy of India, Ministry of Textiles, Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC), and the Japan India Industry Promotion Association (JIIPA), ITTF reflects a shared commitment to strengthening bilateral textile and apparel partnerships. A high-level Indian delegation, including Sibi George, Ambassador; Rohit Kansal, Additional Secretary and Sudhir Sekhri, Chairman, AEPC is attending the fair to explore enhanced trade and investment opportunities.
During the inauguration, Minister Singh highlighted the historical textile trade ties between India and Japan. He emphasized Prime Minister Modi's ‘end-to-end policy’ for the textile sector, citing initiatives like the 7 PM MITRA Parks. Each spanning 1,000-2,000 acre, these mega textile parks are expected to attract Rs 1 lakh crore in investment and create approximately 1.2 million jobs, offering Japanese investors incentives like state government subsidies. Singh also noted Japan's recent import of 5,000 cars from India as a testament to India's quality standards.
Highlighting India's rapid economic growth and robust domestic demand, Sibi George asserted the strength of India-Japan economic ties despite global slowdowns. He encouraged partnerships with Japanese buyers, recognizing their preference for quality, detail, and refined aesthetics, which resonate with India’s textile strengths.
Kansal emphasized India's comprehensive textile value chain, large domestic market, strong export footprint, and capacity for sustainable, large-scale manufacturing as attractive factors for global buyers and investors. Sekhri added, ITTF has become a strategic platform, with over 150 exhibitors showcasing a diverse range, from sustainable apparel to artisan products, tailored for Japanese consumers.
Sekhri revealed, successful meetings with major Japanese brands like Uniqlo, Adastria, Toray, Itokin, Broque Japan, Daiso, YKK, and Pegasus, resulted in them expressing keen interest in increasing sourcing and investing in India. In particular, Daiso Industries announced plans to open 200 stores and manufacture cotton products in India, urged by the Minister to leverage India's textile infrastructure.
The day concluded with a roundtable where Singh encouraged Japanese CEOs to invest in technical textiles, fiber production, and textile machinery. India aims to significantly expand its garment exports to Japan, which stood at $234.5 million in 2024, representing only 1 per cent of Tokyo's $23 billion apparel import market. India's duty-free trade under the CEPA, ESG-compliant factories, and flexible manufacturing are strong assets, but meeting Japanese quality standards (especially in MMF) and streamlining trade procedures remain crucial for capturing a larger share.
