Strengthening connectivity, promoting cooperation and innovation in Vietnam - India textile, garment and footwear industries

The Vietnam Trade Office in India organised the seminar to promote substantive cooperation, enhance business connectivity, and expand investment and trade opportunities between the two countries in textiles, footwear, silk, supporting industries and production technologies. The programme attracted nearly 60 enterprises, associations and research centres in textiles, footwear and silk, reflecting growing interest from the business communities of both sides in this field.

Speaking at the seminar, Thuong emphasised that Vietnam and India are two dynamic economies in Asia, with increasingly developing cooperative ties and strong complementarities in the textile and footwear value chains. While India has strengths in raw materials, fibres, leather processing, technology and a large market scale, Vietnam holds advantages in manufacturing capacity, exports and an extensive network of free trade agreements. These factors provide a favourable foundation for both sides to expand investment, trade and technology transfer in the coming period.

One of the key highlights of the programme was the introduction of Bharat Tex 2026, scheduled to take place from July 14 to 17, 2026 in Delhi, India - a large-scale textile event of the country. Vardhman Jain, a representative of the organising committee, shared the strategic vision of Bharat Tex 2026 as a global platform connecting the entire ecosystem from fibre to fashion, offering opportunities for international enterprises to invest, source and cooperate globally.

With the goal of becoming the world’s third-largest economy by 2027, India’s textile industry plays a pivotal role, with a market size of USD 180 billion and strengths in both natural and synthetic fibres. Amid global geopolitical uncertainties, India has affirmed itself as a “stable and reliable partner” for countries in the region, particularly Vietnam.

Jain stressed that Bharat Tex is not merely a trade exhibition but also a strategic platform to promote in-depth international cooperation in the textile sector. The organising committee expressed its intention to invite ministerial-level delegations and leading experts from Vietnam to attend the event. Vietnam’s official and substantive participation is expected to open up significant opportunities for Vietnamese enterprises to access the Indian market, strengthen partnerships and foster bilateral cooperation across the textile value chain.

The organisers also encouraged leading Vietnamese enterprises and brands to actively participate in the exhibition to promote products, showcase innovation capacity, management experience, production technologies and competitive advantages of Vietnam’s textile industry to the international community and the Indian market. He expressed the hope to continue receiving coordination from the Vietnam Trade Office in India in connecting speakers, experts and Vietnamese leaders to participate in specialised seminars within the framework of Bharat Tex.

The event is expected to feature more than 100 discussion sessions, including 30 to 40 key sessions focusing on industry development orientations, technological innovation, sustainable supply chains and global market trends. The participation of Vietnamese experts is anticipated to bring practical value and important perspectives to the programme.

In the field of sericulture and silk, P. Sivakumar, Council Member and Chief Executive Officer of the Central Silk Board under India’s Ministry of Textiles, delivered a presentation on “Cooperation between India and Vietnam in the silk sector.” The presentation highlighted complementarities between the two countries, with Vietnam being an important supplier of raw silk, while India possesses strong processing capacity, large consumption demand and a well-developed silk ecosystem. Both sides still have significant potential for cooperation in breeding research, training programmes, product development and value chain enhancement.

Sivakumar also proposed that Vietnam join the International Sericultural Commission (ISC) to share technologies and invest in research and development. In addition, the Indian government offers 30-day ITECH training programmes for Vietnamese farmers and entrepreneurs, fully funded. The Central Silk Board expressed its willingness to cooperate with Vietnamese partners in investing in pharmaceutical and cosmetic factories based on mulberry by-products in India.

From an investment perspective, Aditya Das and Tripti Pandey, representatives of Invest India under India’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry, shared opportunities for investment cooperation between Vietnam and India in textiles, garments and footwear. These include production support policies, industrial ecosystems, joint venture potential, supply chain cooperation and technology transfer. Invest India stands ready to support Vietnamese enterprises investing in textile and footwear projects in India so that both sides can leverage their respective strengths in raw materials, fibres, leather processing, technology and large market scale.

From the Vietnamese side, Duong Phong Hoa, Deputy Director of the Institute for Technology Innovation under the Vietnam Leather, Footwear and Handbag Association (LEFASO), introduced the 26th International Exhibition on Footwear and Leather Products, scheduled to take place from July 8 to 10, 2026. He extended an invitation to Indian enterprises to participate, thereby expanding opportunities for cooperation and market development with Vietnam’s footwear industry.

Meanwhile, Rajiv Wasan, Vice Chairman of the Agra Footwear Manufacturers and Exporters Chamber (AFMEC), introduced the 18th International Footwear and Manufacturing Technology Fair “MEET AT AGRA 2026”, to be held from October 3 to 5, 2026 in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India. This is one of India’s key specialised events, expected to serve as an additional bridge for enterprises of both countries in footwear and accessories, as well as advanced solutions and technologies in leather processing, components and materials, machinery and equipment, production technology, footwear design and industrial support systems.

The seminar also saw participation from representatives of the Department of Industry and Trade of Lam Dong province, the Central Sericulture Research Centre, along with numerous associations and enterprises from both countries. The Q&A session was vibrant, with practical exchanges on market trends, investment opportunities, raw material cooperation, green technologies and trade promotion.