India’s textile sector is stitching together stronger trade ties with Japan, as major Japanese apparel brands show serious interest in sourcing from and investing in Indian manufacturing. At the recently held India Tex Trend Fair (ITTF) 2025 in Tokyo, key meetings and collaborations unfolded between Indian exporters and Japanese buyers—ushering in a new chapter for bilateral textile trade.
“We had successful meetings with major Japanese brands like Uniqlo, Daiso, and YKK. There is real potential here to scale up sourcing and joint ventures,”
— Sudhir Sekhri, Chairman, AEPC
— Sudhir Sekhri, Chairman, AEPC
The Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC) believes India has a golden opportunity to become a leading apparel supplier to Japan—leveraging its manufacturing capabilities, growing sustainability focus, and policy support like PM MITRA Parks.
Key Highlights:
- Japan keen to invest in India’s textile sector; meetings held with top brands including:
- Uniqlo, Adastria, Daiso, YKK, Pegasus, Toray, and more.
- Over 30 Indian firms participated in India Tex Trend Fair 2025 in Tokyo.
- AEPC urged Japanese companies to increase sourcing from India and explore FDI opportunities.
- Indian companies committed to Japanese quality standards and compliance norms.
- India's current share in Japan's apparel import market is only 1% (USD 234.5 million) of Japan’s USD 23 billion import volume.
- India’s sustainability credentials, duty-free trade, and flexible manufacturing are key advantages.
- To scale up exports, focus needed on:
- Quality improvement in MMF (Man-Made Fibers).
- Simplified trade procedures.
- Japanese regulatory compliance.
Government Push:
The Indian government is accelerating domestic textile manufacturing through schemes like the seven PM MITRA Parks, aiming to make India a preferred sourcing hub for global markets.
