The 12th edition of the Asian Textile Conference (ATEXCON 2025), organized by the Confederation of Indian Textile Industry (CITI), concluded successfully today at the Courtyard by Marriott, Mumbai. Gherzi, a leading global textile consulting firm, served as the official knowledge partner for the event.

Asia continues to be the backbone of the global textile and apparel sector, contributing significantly across the value chain. The region accounts for approximately 63% of the world’s total cotton production and an astounding 90% of the world’s man-made fiber (MMF) production, making it the global leader in raw material supply. Furthermore, with around 90% of the world’s total spinning capacity and 85% of global knitting capacity, Asia remains the largest manufacturing base worldwide.

Recognized as one of Asia's most prestigious textile industry conferences, ATEXCON 2025 brought together global leaders, policymakers, and experts to explore Asia's growing influence in the global textile sector.

The event commenced with a warm welcome address by Rakesh Mehra, Chairman, CITI, who underscored the immense potential of Asian countries in the global textile landscape. He emphasized that while increasing export volumes is important, the focus should also be on enhancing value addition to drive higher unit value realization (UVR). “Exporting high-value products with greater UVR should be a priority for all Asian countries,” stated Mehra, highlighting the need for strategic growth in the sector.

ATEXCON 2025 witnessed the release of two significant documents aimed at shaping the future of India’s textile and apparel (T&A) sector:

1. 5-Point Agenda for the Indian T&A Industry (2025-26): A joint initiative by leading textile associations and export promotion councils, this agenda outlines immediate policy interventions needed to achieve India’s export target for 2025-26 and drive the industry toward a collective goal of US$ 100 billion in exports by 2030."

2. “Code of Conduct for Prevention of Child Labour and Forced Labour in the Indian Textile Industry: Demonstrating the industry’s strong commitment to ethical practices, this voluntary code aims to address and eliminate any instances of child labor and forced labor across the textile value chain. The code has been endorsed by AEPC, CITI, Indian Technical Textile Association (ITTA), SIMA, TEA, CMAI, MATEXCIL, PDEXCIL, and TEXPROCIL.

This year was the 12th year of the ATEXCON which brought together industry leaders, policymakers, and experts to discuss Asia's growing influence in the global textile sector under the theme "Asia Steering Global Growth."

 Key sessions at 12th ATEXCON:

1. Theme Session: Asia Steering Global Growth
2.  
3. Set the tone for the conference, highlighting Asia's strategic position in global textile markets and the need for collaborative growth.

Session 1: Strategies for Changing Landscape – Trade Dynamics & Policy Shifts

Moderated by David Uricoli, Partner, Gherzi USA, this session explored how evolving trade policies and geopolitical shifts are reshaping supply chains and competitiveness in the region.

Session 2: Trade Dynamics & Policy Shifts

Moderated by Dr. Siddharth Rajagopal, Executive Director, Texprocil, the session brought together industry leaders to discuss emerging trade trends, policy challenges, and strategies for enhancing Asia's competitiveness in the global textile market.

Session 3: Technological Disruptions & Digitization

Led by Suryadeb Mukherjee, Principal Consultant, Gherzi Consulting, the discussion focused on the transformative impact of AI, automation, and digital tools on textile manufacturing and sustainability.

5. Session 4: Technical Textiles Expansion

Moderated by Dr. SK Sundararaman, SIMA Chairman, explored growth opportunities in medical, automotive and geotextiles. 

Session 5: Future of Fashion & Consumer Trends

Moderated by Rahul Mehta, Chief Mentor, Clothing Manufacturers Association of India (CMAI), this session examined shifting consumer preferences, the rise of circular fashion, and how brands can adapt to meet new demands.

The topics covered at ATEXCON 2025 are critical to the textile industry's future, particularly as Asia cements its role as the global hub for textile production and innovation. From trade policy adjustments to technological advancements and sustainability imperatives, the conference provided actionable insights for businesses navigating a rapidly evolving landscape.

The conference concluded with a valedictory session, summarizing key takeaways and set the stage for future initiatives.