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India–Afghanistan Hold Talks to Strengthen Cooperation in Textile Sector
India–Afghanistan Hold Talks to Strengthen Cooperation in Textile Sector
India and Afghanistan have held a high-level meeting in New Delhi to deepen cooperation in the textile sector. The Afghan delegation, led by Shafiullah Azam (Director General of Economic Relations), met A. Bipin Menon (Trade Advisor, Ministry of Textiles) to explore new avenues of economic engagement.
Key Focus Areas
Technical support for Afghan cotton farmers, including training, seed improvement, and best cultivation practices.
Facilitation of shipments and visas to improve trade movement and professional exchanges.
Stronger engagement between industry bodies of both countries to encourage B2B collaborations, trade fairs, and technology partnerships.
Why It Matters
Afghanistan aims to strengthen its textile ecosystem, create employment, and improve training for farmers entering the cotton value chain. India, as the world’s second-largest cotton producer, is well-positioned to support Afghanistan through expertise, training institutions, and affordable technology.
Trade Snapshot
India is the second-largest supplier of textiles and apparel to Afghanistan.
India’s textile exports to Afghanistan (2024): USD 68.7 million.
Afghanistan’s global textile imports (2024): USD 742.8 million.
Significance
The dialogue enhances India’s development cooperation with Afghanistan and helps boost textile capacity in the region. The partnership offers mutual benefits—India expands its trade footprint, while Afghanistan improves production, skills, and employment opportunities.
