Lok Sabha Question No. 4961 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-04-01
Subject: Impact of FTAs and PTAs on Exports
Ministry: TEXTILES
Asked by: Shri Navaskani K, Shri Selvam G, Shri C N Annadurai

## IMPACT OF FTAS AND PTAS ON EXPORTS

4961. SHRI C N ANNADURAI: SHRI NAVASKANI K: SHRI SELVAM G:

Will the Minister of TEXTILES वस्त्र मंत्री be pleased to state :

(a) the share of different segments like cotton, synthetic fabrics, silks, wool and technical textiles in the total exports during each of the last three years;

(b) the steps taken by the Government to enhance India's global competitiveness in textile exports;

(c)  whether  the  Government  has  assessed  the  impact  of  various  Free  Trade  Agreements  (FTAs)  and Preferential Trade Agreements (PTAs) on India's textile exports and if so, the details of such assessments along with the steps taken tariff and non-tariff barriers affecting Indian textile exports;

(d) the steps taken to promote handloom and traditional textiles in international markets;

(e)  the  number  of  Indian  handloom  and  handicraft  exporters  supported  under  various  Government initiatives;

(f)  the  status  of  Geographical  Indication  (GI)  tagging  for  Indian  textile  products  and  its  impact  on exports; and

(g)  the  efforts  made  to  connect  Indian  artisans  &  weavers  with  global  buyers  through  digital  and  ecommerce platforms?

## उत्तर

## ANSWER )

## वस्त्र राज्  य मंत्री ( श्री पबित्र मार्घेररटा

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR TEXTILES (SHRI PABITRA MARGHERITA)

(a): The details of India's export of Cotton, Man-made, Wool, Silk and Technical Textiles during the last three years is attached at Annexure.

(b)  &  (c): India  has  signed  14  Free  Trade  Agreements  (FTAs)  and  6  Preferential  Trade  Agreements (PTAs) with its trading partners to give boost to India's exports.

The  Government  is  implementing  various  schemes/initiatives  to  promote  Indian  textiles  sector  and enhance its competitiveness. The major schemes/initiatives include PM Mega Integrated Textile Regions and Apparel  (PM  MITRA)  Parks  Scheme  to  create  a  modern,  integrated,  world  class textile infrastructure; Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme focusing on MMF Fabric, MMF Apparel and Technical  Textiles  to  boost  large  scale  manufacturing  and  enhancing  competitiveness;  National Technical  Textiles  Mission  focusing  on  Research  Innovation  &  Development,  Promotion  and  Market Development;  SAMARTH  -  Scheme  for  Capacity  Building  in  Textile  Sector  with  the  objective providing demand driven, placement oriented, skilling program.

Further,  Government  is  also  implementing  Rebate  of  State  and  Central  Taxes  and  Levies  (RoSCTL) scheme for Apparel/Garments and Made-ups in order to enhance competitiveness by adopting principle of  zero  rated  exports.  Further,  textiles  products  not  covered  under  the  RoSCTL  scheme  are  covered under Remissions of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products (RoDTEP) along with other products. In addition,  Government  provides  financial  support  to  various  Export  Promotion  Councils  and  Trade Bodies under Market Access Initiative Scheme implemented by Department of Commerce for organising and participating in trade fairs, exhibitions, buyer-seller meets etc at national and international levels.

(d): Ministry  of  Textiles  through  Office  of  Development  Commissioner  (Handlooms)  promotes Handloom products of the country by implementing following schemes:

- i. National Handloom Development Programme;
- ii. Raw Material Supply Scheme;
3.  Under the above schemes, financial assistance is provided to eligible handloom agencies/weavers for raw materials,  procurement  of  upgraded  looms  &  accessories,  solar  lighting  units,  construction  of workshed, skilling, product & design development, technical and common infrastructure, marketing of  handloom  products  in  domestic  &  international  markets,  concessional  loans  under  weavers' MUDRA scheme and social security etc.
4.  Assistance  in  establishing  international  marketing  linkages  to  suitable  Apex/Primary  handloom cooperative  societies,  corporations,  producers'  companies,  handloom  awardees,  exporters,  other talented weavers etc. who are producing exclusive exportable handloom products.
5.  Market  penetration  through  organisation/participation  in  international  fairs/exhibitions,  big  ticket events,  Buyer  Sellers  Meet,  Reverse  Buyer  Sellers  Meet  etc.,  for  export  promotion  of  handloom products. Publicity and brand development through India Handloom Brand (IHB), Handloom Mark (HLM) and other measures.
6.  Raw  Material  Supply  Scheme  (RMSS)  is  being  implemented  throughout  the  country  to  make available yarn to handloom weavers. Under the scheme, fright charges are reimbursed for all types of yarn; and component of 15% price subsidy is there for cotton hank yarn, domestic silk, wool and linen yarn and blended yarn of natural fibres.

(e): Around 2,600 handicrafts  exporters  registered  with  Export  Promotion  Council  for  Handicrafts (EPCH)  were  supported  through  participation  in  International  trade  fairs  and  Buyer  Seller  Meets organized in India and abroad under MAI Scheme of Department of Commerce. Around 582 member exporters of the Handloom Export Promotion Council (HEPC) were provided marketing support during 2024-25 (upto February 2025) under various schemes of the ministries.

(f): Ministry of Textiles promotes  the provision of  Geographical Indication (GI)  of  Goods (Registration & Protection) Act 1999, in respect of handloom & handicrafts products of pan India under the scheme, National Handloom Development Programme (NHDP) & National Handicrafts Development  Programme  (NHDP)  respectively.  Under  the  above  scheme,  financial  assistance  is provided for meeting the expenses in registering the designs/products, imparting training to personnel of implementing  agencies  and  effective  enforcement  of  G.I.  registration.  So  far,  a  total  no.  of  214 handicrafts products and 104 handloom products, out of a total no. of 658 GI tagged products have been registered under the GI Act.

(g): To increase more marketing opportunities, the office of Development Commissioner (Handicrafts) implementing various domestic &  international marketing events under National Handicraft Development Programmes (NHDP) across the country wherein artisans are being provided a platform  to  sell  their  products.  Further,  an  e-commerce  portal  (www.Indiahandmade.com)  has  been launched specifically for artisans & weavers where they can sell their products to buyers from all over the  country.  Artisans  are  being  also  onboarded  on  GeM  portal  where  they  can  sell  their  products  to government offices/PSU etc.

Annexure India's export of Cotton, Man-made, Wool, Silk during the last three years:

Value in USD Million

| Commodity                                | FY 2021-2022   | FY 2022-2023   | FY 2023-2024   |
|------------------------------------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
| Cotton Yarn                              | 5,498          | 2,752          | 3,780          |
| Other textile yarn, fabrics, madeups etc | 650            | 730            | 731            |
| Cotton Raw Incld. Waste                  | 2,816          | 781            | 1,117          |
| Cotton Fabrics, Madeups Etc.             | 8,201          | 6,821          | 6,630          |
| Cotton Textiles                          | 17,166         | 11,085         | 12,258         |
| Manmade Staple Fibre                     | 680            | 463            | 402            |
| Manmade Yarn, Fabrics, Madeups           | 5,615          | 4,949          | 4,679          |
| Man-made textiles                        | 6,294          | 5,412          | 5,081          |
| Wool Raw                                 | 0              | 1              | 1              |
| Wollen Yarn, Fabrics, Madeups Etc.       | 166            | 204            | 192            |
| Wool &Woolen textiles                    | 166            | 205            | 192            |
| Natural Silk Yarn, Fabrics, Madeup       | 79             | 72             | 79             |
| Silk Raw                                 | 2              | 0              | 2              |
| Silk Waste                               | 28             | 22             | 38             |
| Silk Products                            | 109            | 95             | 119            |

Source: DGCIS provisional data

India's export of Technical Textiles during the last three years:

Value in Rs. crore

| Commodity          | FY 2021-2022   | FY 2022- 2023   | FY 2023- 2024   |
|--------------------|----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
| Technical Textiles | 21,194.62      | 20,095.52       | 21,407.38       |

Source: Ministry of Commerce

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