Indian delegation explores trade, investment, manufacturing and academic collaborations with Italian industry leaders and fashion institutions, strengthening bilateral textile partnerships ahead of Bharat Tex 2027.
A day of meaningful engagements in Milan on 2 November 2026, as part of the Indian delegation led by Smt. Neelam Shami Rao, Secretary, Ministry of Textiles, Government of India, aimed at strengthening India–Italy cooperation in textiles, fashion, design and manufacturing.
The day commenced with industry interactions with Aquafil and Guess Europe, focusing on leveraging the opportunities arising from the India–EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA), deepening economic cooperation and exploring avenues for enhanced bilateral trade and investment.
The delegation also visited two renowned fashion and design institutions, NABA and Istituto Marangoni, to explore avenues for academic collaboration, knowledge exchange, immersive learning programmes for NIFT students and stronger industry–academia partnerships.
A key highlight was the India–Italy Textile & Manufacturing Partnership Forum, which brought together industry leaders and stakeholders to deliberate on manufacturing, investment and business opportunities between the two countries. The forum also provided a platform to showcase Bharat Tex 2027 as a global platform for the textile and apparel industry, complemented by an outreach programme for the 4th edition of Bharat Tex.
These engagements underscored the immense potential for a stronger India–Italy partnership, bringing together India’s rich textile heritage, skilled craftsmanship, diverse manufacturing capabilities and growing global presence with Italy’s world-renowned strengths in design, fashion, innovation and technology.
The interactions marked an important step towards fostering enduring economic partnerships, expanding trade and investment, creating new opportunities for young designers and professionals, and building a globally connected, innovative and competitive textile and fashion ecosystem.