Bharat Tex 2026 aims big for India’s $179 billion textiles sector

India is poised for strong growth in the textiles and apparel sector, currently valued at $179 billion, in this decade, supported by an expanding network of free trade agreements (FTAs), according to A. Sakthivel, Core Committee Member, Bharat Tex Trade Federation (BTTF).

During a press briefing for BTTF in the capital on Monday, Sakthivel said India is expected to sign up FTAs with 27 more countries this year, taking the total number of partner countries to 38. “This means that India’s FTAs will cover nearly 65% of the world population. We are going to see a big boost in our exports. We have already advised exporters to increase capacity to meet the expected demand. We are very optimistic that India will do well,” he said.

Bharat Tex, India’s largest global textile event, is expected to bring more orders and buyers for India, Sakthivel said.


Set to open tomorrow and run from July 14 to July 17 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, the large-scale event will bring together the full breadth of India’s textile ecosystem on a unified global platform.

Over 60,000 trade visitors have already registered for the event, said Naren Goenka, Chairman, BTTF. “Tomorrow, thousands of exhibitors, 7,000 buyers and delegates from more than 20 countries are expected to arrive for Bharat Tex,” he said.

Bhadresh Dodhia, Co-Chairman, Bharat Tex Trade Federation, added, “With over 4,000 B2B meetings and more than 30 MoUs expected to be signed over the next four days, this edition is designed to convert conversations into commerce and opportunities into enduring partnerships.”

Speaking about the significance of clusters in the textile ecosystem, Dodhia added that clusters such as Tiruppur, Ichalkaranji and Ahmedabad have a bigger role to play. “These clusters are not just for the sake of exhibitors but they give exposure to the export community, teach them how to deal with customers, handle documentation and export. This is one of the key thrust areas of BTTF to help bring exporters into the ecosystem.”

On the business front, the third edition of the Bharat Tex expects participation from over 7,000 buyers, 130,000 trade visitors, and more than 20,000 textile products, spread across 1.6 million sq. ft of exhibition space, aiming to drive commercial engagement throughout the event.

The platform is set to facilitate over 4,000 B2B meetings, more than 100 B2G meetings, and the signing of more than 30 MoUs. These agreements span trade, investment, technology, sustainability, and market access, directly benefiting manufacturers, exporters, and global partners.

The third edition also boasts over 100 knowledge sessions, including panel discussions, masterclasses, and state sessions. Covering themes such as trade and investment, sustainability, Industry 5.0, innovation, technical textiles, fashion, policy, and global sourcing, these sessions are designed to strengthen export competitiveness, support MSMEs, and address emerging global market trends.

This edition has seen strong government engagement, with eight sponsor states—Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu—leading the charge. Alongside them, nine states and Union Territories, including Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Jammu & Kashmir, Odisha, Manipur, Rajasthan, and West Bengal, are participating as exhibitors.

The exhibition will also host over 350 speakers, including international experts, industry leaders, CXOs, policymakers, and thought leaders from more than 20 countries, showcasing the intent to deepen global trade partnerships.

Industry and business delegations from the United States, Japan, Spain, United Kingdom, Portugal, Russia, South Africa, New Zealand, the UAE, Thailand, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, among others are also expected, creating fresh opportunities for trade, sourcing and investment.