The question raised in Parliament addresses the impact of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) and Preferential Trade Agreements (PTAs) on India's exports, particularly in the textiles sector, and highlights several government initiatives aimed at boosting exports. Here’s an overview based on the information provided in the release:
Key Highlights from the Response:
Impact of FTAs and PTAs:
- India has signed 14 FTAs and 6 PTAs with various trading partners. These agreements are intended to boost India's exports by reducing trade barriers such as tariffs and offering preferential market access to Indian goods, including textiles.
- Textile Exports Growth: The agreements have contributed to the growth of India's textile exports, although specific data correlating the agreements directly to export increases was not provided in the response.
Government Schemes to Boost Textile Exports:
- PM MITRA Parks Scheme: This initiative aims to create world-class textile infrastructure through Mega Integrated Textile Regions and Apparel Parks. This will improve production capabilities and competitiveness, potentially leading to greater export volumes.
- Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme: Focused on Man-made Fibre (MMF) Fabric, MMF Apparel, and Technical Textiles, this scheme provides incentives for large-scale manufacturing and aims to enhance India's competitiveness globally, making exports more attractive and affordable.
- National Technical Textiles Mission: This initiative focuses on research, innovation, and the promotion of technical textiles, which are critical for enhancing exports in specialized textile sectors.
- RoSCTL & RoDTEP Schemes: The government provides rebates for state and central taxes under RoSCTL for apparel, garments, and made-ups, and RoDTEP for other textile products, ensuring zero-rated exports and improved export pricing competitiveness.
- Export Promotion Initiatives: The government funds Export Promotion Councils and organizes trade fairs, buyer-seller meets, and exhibitions under the Market Access Initiative (MAI) Scheme to promote textile exports.
Support for Handloom and Handicrafts Sector:
- The Ministry of Textiles is actively promoting India's handloom and handicrafts exports. They support initiatives like the National Handloom Development Programme, provide financial assistance, and encourage participation in international fairs and exhibitions.
- The Geographical Indication (GI) scheme also helps in registering and protecting unique handloom and handicraft products, thereby increasing their international appeal and export potential.
Export Performance in Textiles (Recent Data):
- Cotton Textiles: Exports showed a slight decline in 2022-2023 but picked up again in 2023-2024.
- Cotton Yarn: Export value fell from USD 5,498 million in FY 2021-22 to USD 2,752 million in FY 2022-23 but recovered to USD 3,780 million in FY 2023-24.
- Other Cotton Products: Exports of cotton fabrics, made-ups, and other related products remained steady, though there were fluctuations in specific items like cotton raw materials.
- Manmade and Wool Textiles: Exports in this category saw a general decrease across the years for certain products, such as manmade staple fibre and woolen textiles.
- Technical Textiles: This sector showed consistent growth, with exports of technical textiles rising from Rs. 21,194.62 crore in FY 2021-22 to Rs. 21,407.38 crore in FY 2023-24, reflecting the importance of this sector in India’s textile export portfolio.
Conclusion:
India’s textile exports, particularly in technical textiles, cotton, and man-made textiles, have been supported by several FTAs and PTAs, government schemes, and infrastructural investments. These initiatives are aimed at enhancing global competitiveness, reducing costs, and expanding market access, ultimately leading to increased exports. The data also shows a diverse export performance across different categories, with technical textiles showing positive growth and some cotton-related exports experiencing fluctuations.
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