India’s apparel and textile industry has hailed the signing of the India–European Union Free Trade Agreement (FTA) as a historic development expected to boost export competitiveness and growth in the European market.
Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC) highlighted that zero-duty access for Indian garments across all EU member states could enable exports to potentially double over the next three years, compared with the current 3% growth rate. The EU, the world’s largest apparel importer, accounts for nearly 28% of India’s apparel exports, though India currently holds only 2.9% of the EU market.
The Confederation of Indian Textile Industry (CITI) and industry leaders emphasized that the FTA will level the playing field against competitors like Bangladesh, Turkey, and Vietnam, while encouraging investment in innovation, sustainability, and advanced production technologies.
Companies such as Pearl Global Industries see significant opportunities to increase both export volumes and revenue from the EU, leveraging India’s strong capabilities in quality, ESG compliance, and end-to-end traceability.
The FTA is expected to drive fresh investments across the textile and apparel value chain, strengthen India’s position as a reliable supplier, and support long-term growth in the European market.
