The Ministry of Textiles convened the first post-budget National Industry Consultation at Vanijya Bhawan, New Delhi, on 19th February, 2026, Thursday, bringing together senior government officials, industry leaders, financial institutions, development partners and representatives from across the textile value chain to deliberate on implementation priorities following the Union Budget 2026 announcements.

The consultation focused on operationalising two key initiatives announced in the Budget - the Textile Expansion and Employment (TEEM) Scheme and the Tex Eco Initiative - aimed at strengthening competitiveness, modernisation, sustainability and employment generation across the textile and apparel sector.

Rohit Kansal, Additional Secretary (Textiles), delivered the welcome and context-setting address, emphasising that the Union Budget has been distinctly textile-centric, with a strong focus on employment generation and manufacturing growth. He noted that the announcement of an integrated programme for the textile sector provides a comprehensive framework to align investments, policy support and institutional efforts across the value chain. He further underlined that the Budget signals a clear intent to scale manufacturing, strengthen domestic capabilities and position textiles as a key driver of inclusive growth and job creation.

Delivering the special address, Smt. NeelamShami Rao, Secretary (Textiles), highlighted that after a year marked by resilience amid global headwinds, the outlook for the Indian textile industry is increasingly favourable. She noted that key Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) now in place are opening significant new market opportunities for Indian exporters, enhancing tariff competitiveness and strengthening India’s position in global value chains. She emphasised that the convergence of these trade agreements with a distinctly textile-centric Union Budget creates a timely and strategic advantage for the sector. With expanded market access, policy clarity and focused government support, she stated that the industry is well-positioned to scale up production, attract investments and deepen its footprint in global markets.

A detailed presentation on the Textile Expansion and Employment Mission outlined a roadmap for modernising weaving, processing and garmenting segments, mobilising investments, strengthening MSME participation and generating large-scale employment. This was followed by a brief on the Tex Eco Initiative, which aims to mainstream sustainability, circularity, resource efficiency and green manufacturing practices across the textile value chain.

The interactive session saw proactive and constructive engagement from stakeholders, who appreciated the forward-looking design of TEEM and Tex Eco and endorsed the integrated framework for addressing structural gaps and leveraging global opportunities. Industry offered practical recommendations, including time-bound approvals, improved MSME financing, cluster infrastructure, targeted skilling, digital monitoring, and sustainability-linked incentives, while urging convergence with state policies and export measures. Several participants appreciated the efforts of the government in rolling out a comprehensive and integrated textiles package. 

In his summing-up remarks, Rohit Kansal reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to a collaborative approach to translate policy intent into tangible, measurable results on the ground.He appreciated the industry for its proactive participation and candid feedback, stating that such structured consultations would continue to shape effective and responsive policymaking. He further urged industry stakeholders to share detailed written inputs and specific suggestions with the Ministry’s team to facilitate timely finalisation and ensure effective implementation.

The session concluded with a vote of thanks by Vrunda Manohar Desai, Textile Commissioner who acknowledged the valuable contributions of stakeholders and reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to time-bound and outcome-oriented implementation.

The post-budget National Industry Consultation marks an important step in strengthening structured government, industry dialogue and advancing a coordinated roadmap to enhance India’s position as a credible, competitive and sustainable global textile hub. The discussions reflected a shared resolve between Government and industry to position India as a credible and trusted global textiles partner anchored in scale, sustainability and reliability.