After India-EU FTA to generate 7 million jobs in textiles: Goyal

'Sector exports to increase from $7 billion to $40 bn'

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, Updated At : 03:51 AM Jan 28, 2026 IST

Union Minister for Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal (C) with Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri (L) and Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal during a joint press conference on the India-EU Free Trade Agreement at the National Media Centre in New Delhi. PTI

The India-EU Free Trade Agreement is estimated to generate nearly 7 million jobs in the textile sector alone.Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal on Tuesday said the deal would also help India expand its exports to the EU’s 250 billion dollar textile market, where the South Asian neighbour, Bangladesh, is the current leader with 30 billion dollar exports.

India currently accounts for just 7 billion dollars in EU’s textile imports segment. Goyal highlighted the deal’s potential to raise this to 40 billion dollars in the coming years.

With 40 million jobs, textiles is the second highest job creating segment in India, after agriculture.

“India exports textiles and garments worth 7 billion dollar to the EU every year and duty rates are up to 12 per cent on the goods that we export. Bangladesh has a 30 billion dollar export but has an advantage of being the least developed country with zero duty access. After the FTA with the EU, Indian exports will grow from 7 billion USD to 40 billion USD. Considering this boost, we are looking at close to 7 million jobs in textiles alone,” said Goyal.

After India-EU FTA to generate 7 million jobs in textiles: Goyal

'Sector exports to increase from $7 billion to $40 bn'

Tribune News Service

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