Japanese firms keen to invest in India's textiles sector: Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC)

Significant opportunities exist to deepen collaboration between Indian and Japanese firms in the textiles sector, with Tokyo-based companies expressing keen interest to invest in India, the Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC) said on Wednesday. Chairman of Apparel Export Promotion Council, Mr. Sudhir Sekhri, highlighted that numerous meetings have been held between Indian and Japanese apparel companies to explore potential business partnerships. Several Indian exporters are participating in the India Tex Trend Fair (ITTF) in Tokyo, a flagship textiles event inaugurated by Union Minister of Textiles Mr. Giriraj Singh. The fair is organised jointly by the Embassy of India, the Ministry of Textiles, AEPC, and the Japan India Industry Promotion Association (JIIPA). He urged Japanese firms to increase sourcing and investments in India, citing successful discussions with major brands such as Uniqlo, Adastria, Toray, Itokin, Broque Japan, Daiso, YKK, and Pegasus. He emphasised the Indian textile industry’s commitment to meeting stringent Japanese quality standards and invited Japanese partners to engage closely with Indian exhibitors.
India’s garment exports to Japan stood at Rs. 2,015 crore (US$ 234.5 million) in 2024, a modest share of Japan’s Rs. 1,97,639 crore (US$ 23 billion) apparel imports. The AEPC noted that India has a golden opportunity to significantly grow its presence in the Japanese market, supported by duty-free trade agreements, strong sustainability credentials, and a flexible manufacturing base underpinned by initiatives such as the PM MITRA Parks. However, challenges remain in improving quality standards, especially in man-made fibres (MMF), simplifying trade procedures, and adhering strictly to Japanese compliance norms to capture a greater share of the Rs. 3,00,755 crore (US$ 35 billion) Japanese apparel market.

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