India-Afghanistan: Strengthening Strategic Textile Partnership

India and Afghanistan held a high-level textile collaboration meeting in New Delhi, led by Shafiullah Azam (Afghanistan) and A. Bipin Menon (India).

Afghanistan highlighted priorities to build its textile ecosystem, create jobs and train farmers in the cotton value chain, seeking support from India, the world’s second-largest cotton producer.

India is currently the second-largest supplier of textiles to Afghanistan, exporting US$ 68.7 million in 2024, while Afghanistan’s total textile and apparel imports reached US$ 742.8 million globally in the same year.

Key cooperation areas discussed included farmer training, shipment and visa facilitation, and industry-to-industry engagement.

India also invited Afghanistan to participate in Bharat Tex 2026, reaffirming commitment to deepen textile partnership.