Surat’s vibrant textile community is overjoyed at the India-EU Free Trade Agreement’s finale, viewing it as a strategic masterstroke against adversarial tariffs. This pact revitalizes an industry pivotal to India’s economic fabric.
US-imposed duties and Bangladesh’s slump had dimmed prospects, but the EU opens a lucrative frontier. Federation leader Kailash Hakim praised the 18-year diplomatic push. ‘India outmaneuvered tariff threats; Europe’s machinery goldmine is ours now,’ he stated.
Tariff elimination supercharges garment exports to Europe, building on India’s 9% foothold. Surat’s man-made fiber dominance will shine brighter. Swapping Chinese gear for European precision promises quality leaps and efficiency gains.
Valued at ₹150 lakh crore, the sector trails only agriculture in revenue. Traders Sushil Gupta and Johnny Rathod lauded PM Modi’s role. ‘US wars hurt, but this counters with export surges and tech upgrades,’ Gupta noted. Rathod added, ‘Duty-free trade and superior imports—pure win.’
The future gleams with expanded markets, fortified brands, and innovation. Surat’s traders anticipate a export boom, solidifying India’s textile supremacy worldwide.