The growing potential for deeper trade, investment and supply-chain linkages between India and Sri Lanka’s textile and apparel industries came into focus at the India–Sri Lanka Textile Trade Forum held in Colombo this week.

Organised by Worldex India on the sidelines of Intex Sri Lanka 2026, with the support of the High Commission of India, the Forum was held on August 6 at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH), bringing together policymakers, industry representatives, business chambers and textile-sector stakeholders from the two countries.

India’s participation at Intex Sri Lanka 2026 was led by the special “Incredible Textiles of India” Pavilion, with more than 80 Indian exhibitors, Export Promotion Councils and industry bodies showcasing capabilities spanning the textile value chain.

The Indian pavilion was supported by leading Export Promotion Councils under the Ministry of Textiles and the Department of Commerce, including the Powerloom Development & Export Promotion Council (PDEXCIL), the Cotton Textiles Export Promotion Council (TEXPROCIL) and the Man-Made and Technical Textiles Export Promotion Council (MATEXCIL).

High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka, H.E. Santosh Jha, visited the India Pavilion and interacted with participating Indian exhibitors and industry representatives.

Addressing the India–Sri Lanka Textile Trade Forum, Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development Wasantha Samarasinghe and Deputy Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development Chathuranga Abeysinghe highlighted the opportunities available in Sri Lanka for Indian exporters and investors, particularly in the textile and apparel sector.

The Forum also brought together representatives of prominent business chambers, including the Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAF), as well as leading companies from the sector. The gathering provided a platform for businesses and industry stakeholders to explore commercial opportunities and develop stronger connections across the two textile markets.

In his remarks, High Commissioner Jha underscored the strength of the India–Sri Lanka commercial partnership and the potential to further expand bilateral trade and investment through stronger supply-chain integration and industry-to-industry partnerships.

The textile and apparel sector remains an important component of the economic relationship between the two countries, with opportunities extending beyond conventional trade to encompass sourcing, manufacturing, investment, technology and supply-chain collaboration.

The India–Sri Lanka Textile Trade Forum therefore provided an important platform for industry stakeholders to identify new areas of cooperation and strengthen business linkages, supporting the development of mutually beneficial trade and investment opportunities between India and Sri Lanka.