NEW DELHI: From farmers to fashion designers, the government and export promotion councils will showcase the entire value chain at the biggest ever textile show in February. The show will cover not just Bharat Mandapam but also the newly built Yashobhoomi in the capital, as it seeks to position India as a major player in the global supply chain.
The timing of the exhibition, Bharat Tex, which will be spread over two lakh square feet – equivalent to 45 football fields – is also seen to be crucial as it will come around the time general elections are to be announced.
Textiles has been a major focus sector, given the large number of weavers, artisans and workers involved in the sector.
The four-day event is expected to attract global CEOs, policymakers, in addition to over 3,500 exhibitors from around the world, 3,000 overseas buyers from over 40 countries, and more than 40,000 domestic buyers, official sources told TOI.
The textiles ministry, which is working with trade bodies, has reached out to global players such as Chanel, LVMH, Uniqlo, Zara and Walmart – which is hosting its first global sourcing meeting around the same time – to join the mega event where nearly 100 top Indian brands such as Fabindia, Nalli, Arvind Mills and Raymond will be showcased as the organisers work on the theme of “local for global”.
“Indian manufacturers cater to big brands, largely as vendors. We need to create Brand India, as local players should emerge as bigger players on the international scale. That will also help in improving unit value realisation,” said an industry source.
India is seeking to corner a greater share of the global pie as it targets to push its exports to $100 billion from $45 billion.
