India is keen to utilise its free trade agreement with Japan and increase its share of Tokyo’s ready-made garment imports from the current 1 per cent, as Japanese buyers increasingly shift their sourcing strategies.
With an aim to fill the gap left by the declining share of China, which has so far been the largest exporter of ready-made garments to Japan, India’s Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC) said on Friday that it is leading a high-level delegation to Tokyo next week.
The delegation will participate in the India Tex Trend Fair, to be held in Tokyo, from July 15-17, where more than 150 Indian apparel exporters will display their diverse range of domestic apparel products.
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“The council will be taking a high-level delegation to Tokyo to explore the possibilities of enhanced trade and investment by engaging deeply with top Japanese brands and retail chains,” said AEPC chairman, Sudhir Sekhri, adding that India can easily fill the void created by the declining share of China since Japanese buyers are now looking at more competitive pricing, quality and agility in ready-made apparel.
The country’s garment exports to Japan stood at USD 234.5 million in 2024. Tokyo imported these goods worth about USD 23 billion last year, of which India's share was just one per cent.
“Since Japanese sourcing companies focus on cost, quality, and agility, Indian suppliers are well-positioned to meet these expectations, ranging from small, customised high-value orders of 200 pieces to large-scale orders of up to 3 lakh pieces of a single style,” said Sekhri.
India’s Textiles Minister Giriraj Singh will inaugurate the fair in Tokyo.
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