Bharat Tex 2026 concludes with strong global participation and business interest
Bharat Tex 2026 concluded after four days of business meetings, policy discussions and industry networking, marking its largest edition so far. The event brought together manufacturers, buyers, brands, investors and policymakers, reinforcing India’s growing role in global textile and apparel sourcing.
The event was inaugurated by Union Minister of Textiles Shri Giriraj Singh in the presence of Union Minister of State for Textiles Shri Pabitra Margherita, Secretary, Ministry of Textiles Ms. Neelam Shami Rao, senior government officials, industry representatives and international delegates.
The Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC) played a central role in the apparel segment by coordinating exhibitor participation, buyer engagement and strategic industry initiatives.
Strong international buyer turnout
AEPC supported the participation of 416 apparel exhibitors, who connected with 1,365 international buyers and 722 buying agents from across global markets. The event also welcomed CEOs and senior executives from leading European apparel companies, representatives from international fashion brands and official business delegations from Russia, Japan, Poland and Spain.
The scale of buyer participation created extensive business networking opportunities across the apparel value chain, from sourcing discussions to long-term partnership development.
Investment remained a major focus
Promoting investment was one of the key priorities during Bharat Tex 2026.
The Ministry of Textiles organised a dedicated Trade and Investment Session, led by Union Minister Shri Giriraj Singh. The session brought together government officials, industry leaders and investors to discuss India’s investment potential across the textile and apparel value chain.
Participants explored opportunities in manufacturing, infrastructure and value-added production while highlighting the government’s continued efforts to attract both domestic and international investments into the sector.
India–UK CETA draws industry attention
One of the most discussed developments during the event was the implementation of the India–UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA).
A dedicated session titled “India–UK CETA in Action – Shaping the Future of Textile Trade and Investment” was jointly organised by ITPO and AEPC. The discussion was attended by Union Minister of State for Textiles Shri Pabitra Margherita, Secretary Ms. Neelam Shami Rao, ITPO Chairman Shri Jawed Ashraf, AEPC Chairman Dr. A. Sakthivel and other government and industry representatives.
The agreement was viewed as an important step for expanding textile and apparel trade between India and the United Kingdom, while creating new opportunities for exporters and investors.
Regional manufacturing and industry partnerships
The Tiruppur apparel cluster, one of India’s largest garment manufacturing hubs, attracted significant interest from international buyers during the exhibition.
AEPC also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of Madhya Pradesh to support the development of the state’s apparel manufacturing sector.
Throughout the event, AEPC participated in several conferences covering sustainability, free trade agreements, manufacturing competitiveness, investment and technology, reflecting the industry’s growing focus on responsible production and global market access.
Positive response from exhibitors and buyers
Many exhibitors reported productive meetings and a strong pipeline of business enquiries over the four-day exhibition.
International buyers highlighted India’s manufacturing capabilities, sustainability efforts and dependable supply chain as key reasons for expanding sourcing partnerships with Indian suppliers.
AEPC highlights industry momentum
Commenting on the event, Dr. A. Sakthivel, Chairman of AEPC, said Bharat Tex 2026 had been the most successful edition of the exhibition to date, with strong participation from international buyers, sourcing leaders and global brands reflecting growing confidence in India’s manufacturing sector.
He also said the implementation of the India–UK CETA, together with India’s free trade agreements covering 38 countries, is expected to create new opportunities for apparel exports, investment and employment.
Dr. Sakthivel thanked the Ministry of Textiles, participating state governments, the Bharat Tex Organising Committee, exhibitors, international buyers and industry stakeholders for their support. He also acknowledged the event management team for the successful execution of the exhibition and said AEPC would continue building on the momentum created by Bharat Tex 2026 to strengthen India’s position as a preferred sourcing destination for the global apparel industry.
