To create a bright future for the Indian textile industry and to exchange ideas for growth in the Indian textile and textile engineering sector and explore the opportunities therein, the Indian International Textile Machinery Exhibition (ITME) Association recently organized a ‘Business Evening’ in Singapore on the theme ‘Shaping the Future of Textiles – From Tradition to High-Tech’.
It was attended by officials from the Ministry of Textiles, diplomatic missions, entrepreneurs, technical experts, industry bodies and journalists.
The Indian Business Evening was also attended by Senthil Kumar, Honorary Treasurer, Indian ITME Association; Hemant Sharma, Head, Polyester Division, Reliance Industries; Rohit Kansal, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Textiles, Government of India; Shilpak Ambule, High Commissioner of India to Singapore; Jason Kent, CEO, British Textile Machinery Association; Ketan Sangvi, President, Indian ITME Association; and Seema Srivastava, Executive Director, Indian ITME Association.
The evening discussed various issues including the recently concluded Diwali celebrations, exploring new sources and trade alliances for textiles, textile technology and machinery, and building a network for related education and potential partnerships.
More than 183 delegates from the US, UK, China, Sweden, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Turkey, Germany and Singapore participated in the event.
To jointly achieve economic growth, all The India International Textile Machinery Exhibition Association (IITEMA) organized the event in Singapore in association with China International Textile Machinery Exhibition-Asia to accelerate trade partnerships, technology sourcing and manufacturing joint ventures in India.
Speaking at the event, Rohit Kansal, said that India is one of the world’s leading centres for the installation of weaving and knitting machinery. This reflects a significant shift in the entire textile and apparel manufacturing sector.
More focus will be placed on textile machinery investment in the coming years. With a rapidly growing domestic market of over 1.4 billion consumers, India is one of the most important markets in the world.
He said that there are also ample opportunities for investment and cooperation here.
The event was also attended by representatives of the Indian Textile and Textile Engineering Industry, the British Textile Machinery Association, the Taiwan Machinery Industry Association, the International Textile Manufacturers’ Federation, the Turkish Textile Machinery and Accessories Manufacturers’ Association, the Singapore Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Representatives from various associations including the Federation, Swedish Textile Machinery Association, and China Textile Machinery Association also shared their views.
Shilpak Ambule, India’s high-ranking official in Singapore, who is leading India-Singapore trade relations, said that Singapore is India’s 6th largest trading partner and the largest trading partner in Asia.
He said that the relationship between India and Singapore in the textile sector is strong.
Hemant Sharma, Head, Polyester, Reliance Industries, said that India’s textile industry plays a key role in the country’s manufacturing growth. There is a lot of employment, exports and innovation in this sector. And it will contribute significantly to India’s journey towards a $ 30 trillion economy by 2047.
Sanghvi, said that people spent 25 per cent more than last year, or $ 47.22 billion, during the Diwali festival this year. The textile and textile engineering sector It encompasses growth, sustainability and a better future for all. He also said that ‘India ITME 2026’, the most relevant textile engineering trade show in Southeast Asia, will be held in India from December 4 to 9 next year, and will be held in Greater Noida.
India ITME Society hosted India Networking Program – Fabricating the Future of Textile Industry- From Heritage to High-Tech” on 29th October 2025 at Singapore, an exclusive gathering of Ministry of Textile Officials, Embassy Officials, Entrepreneurs, Technocrats, Industry Organisations and Media Personnels designed to foster collaboration, exchange ideas and explore opportunities in the Indian Textile & Textile Engineering Sector.
On the backdrop of just concluded Diwali celebrations and on the sidelines of CITME+ASIA Singapore, India ITME Society, the apex body for textile engineering exhibitions in India, hosted “India Business Evening”, an exclusive interactive evening organised by India ITME Society to explore, educate and network for potential partnership, new sourcing and trade alliances for textiles, textile technology and machineries. The evening was well attended by 183 delegates representing the USA, UK, China, Sweden, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Turkey, Germany & Singapore.
This business program on the sidelines of CITME-ASIA in Singapore was part of strategic push by both Indian Textile & Textile engineering Industry, to accelerate trade partnerships, technology sourcing and manufacturing joint ventures in India; with India. The motto is to achieve economic growth jointly and reap mutual benefits for all partners.
Rohit Kansal stated that India is among the Top Global Hubs in Weaving and Knitting Machinery Installations – Reflecting strong expansion across the Fabric and Apparel Value Chain and stands as the most promising global destination for textile machinery investment in the decade ahead. Since India’s domestic market is growing rapidly with over 1.4 billion consumers, India represents one of the world’s most dynamic markets, opening up opportunities for Investment & Collaboration
Under the leadership of Rohit Kansal, Indian Textile and textile engineering industry delegation interacted with their Business and institutional counter parts from The British Textile Machinery Association (BTMA), Taiwan Association of Machinery Industry (TAMI), International Textile Manufacturers Federation (ITMF), Turkish Textile Machinery, Accessories Industrialists Association (TEMSAD), The Federation Of Merchants’ Associations, Singapore, Textile Machinery Association of Sweden (TMAS), China Textile Machinery Association (CTMA).
Shilpak Ambule, spearheading India Singapore trade relations observed that Singapore is India’s 6th largest trade partner and largest trade partner in ASEAN. Relations between India and Singapore in the textile sector are and characterized by India’s role as a major garment supplier and Singapore’s position as a hub for distribution, design, and retail.
Representing Indian Textile sector, Hemant Sharma, President – Polyester, Reliance Industries, spoke about India’s textile industry is at the heart of the nation’s manufacturing growth – driving jobs, exports, and innovation. With strong policy support and the spirit of enterprise, the sector is set to consolidate its position as a global major – a truly responsible, resilient, and trusted sourcing hub for textiles, contributing to India’s journey toward a $30 trillion economy by the year 2047.
Recently signed UK-BTMA garnered big interest and in a first of its kind discussion focusing on textile and machinery industry, Jason Kent, CEO, British Textile Machinery Association, shared that “The alignment of circumstances of the UK and India negotiating our Free Trade Agreement is a pivotal one, it is a once-in-a-generation opportunity.
“The UK – India FTA is about co-creating a new global textile order — one that is more balanced, more sustainable, and more forward-looking than what we inherited.”
“The FTA creates a platform beyond collaboration — where India’s strength in manufacturing and digital talent meets the UK’s excellence in design, research, and sustainability.”
Sanghvi, brought to the fact that Indian spend in 2025 for the Diwali festival marked a 25% increase compare to USD 47.22 billion spent in 2024 showing a robust economy and market. Textile and textile engineering industry can more than any weave future of prosperity, sustainability and inclusivity for all. He reconfirmed the commitment of India ITME Society to carry forward the dialogue and facilitate business at India ITME 2026, the most relevant textile engineering business event in S.E. Asia to be hosted in India from 4th to 9th December 2026, at IEML, Greater Noida, India.
For Participation at India ITME 2026 kindly click https://india-itme.com/#/userRegistration
For More Information : https://corporate.india-itme.com/itme2026/
