India and Italy are exploring opportunities to strengthen cooperation across textiles, apparel, textile machinery, innovation and sustainability, following a series of industry engagements by an Indian delegation in Biella, Italy, on November 3, 2026.

The second day of the Indian delegation’s visit was led by Neelam Shami Rao, Secretary, Ministry of Textiles, Government of India, and focused on strengthening industry partnerships, encouraging innovation and identifying new avenues for bilateral collaboration.

According to an update shared on the official LinkedIn page of the Ministry of Textiles, the delegation visited Biella, one of Italy’s prominent textile manufacturing centres, known for its high-quality textiles, advanced manufacturing capabilities and craftsmanship.

A business roundtable organised with the Chamber of Commerce, Biella, brought together leading textile enterprises from Italy’s Piedmont region. Discussions centred on potential partnerships across textiles, apparel, textile machinery, innovation and sustainability. Presentations highlighting the capabilities of the Biellese and Indian textile industries provided an overview of opportunities for increased trade, investment and industrial cooperation.

During the interaction, the Indian delegation also showcased Bharat Tex 2027, highlighting the event’s expanding scale, growing participation and international significance as a platform for the global textile and apparel industry.

The delegation also visited MagnoLab, a collaborative textile innovation network, to understand developments in textile research, material development, advanced manufacturing processes and industry-led innovation. The interaction highlighted the importance of collaboration across the textile value chain in supporting experimentation, knowledge exchange and the development of future-ready solutions.

The engagements underscored the potential for India and Italy to combine their respective strengths in textile manufacturing, craftsmanship, materials, technology and design. They also highlighted opportunities to strengthen industry–academia partnerships and create new avenues for designers, researchers and manufacturers.

The visit reflects the growing focus on international cooperation to advance textile innovation, promote sustainable manufacturing and build stronger connections across the global textile ecosystem.