Uniqlo, Japanese Textile Firms to Increase Sourcing from India

Japanese textile and apparel companies, including global fashion giant Uniqlo, are expected to increase sourcing of textile inputs from India and explore greater investment in the country, according to Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal.

Speaking about India Japan trade and investment opportunities, Goyal said discussions with some of Japan’s major textile importers and marketing companies had generated confidence that Japanese companies would expand their presence in India.

He said companies could not only invest in India to expand their businesses but also source textile products and inputs from the country for the Japanese market and their global retail networks.

“Businesses in Japan and India are very much committed to working together,” Goyal said, highlighting growing interest in technology transfer and making India a global manufacturing base while also serving the country’s large domestic market.

Goyal also acknowledged that Indian textile companies have historically faced challenges in meeting specific Japanese market requirements. Differences in sizes, materials, designs and styles have made it difficult for some Indian manufacturers to expand their presence in Japan.

However, the Indian apparel industry is now taking greater interest in understanding these requirements. According to Goyal, two delegations from the Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC) have recently been working to better understand the Japanese market and its product specifications.

The development could create new opportunities for Indian textile and apparel manufacturers to increase exports to Japan while integrating more closely with Japanese companies and global supply chains.

Japan is currently the world’s fourth largest garment importer, after the US, Germany and France, making it an important potential market for Indian textile and apparel exporters.

Goyal also said India is expected to secure significant concessions from trading partners including the US, European Union, UK and Canada through Free Trade Agreements (FTAs).

The growing interest from Japanese companies, combined with improved market access through FTAs, could strengthen India's position as a global sourcing and manufacturing hub for textiles and apparel.