New Delhi, Jan. 28 -- The India-European Union Free Trade Agreement (FTA) has sparked strong optimism across India's textile sector, particularly in major manufacturing hubs such as Surat, where industry leaders view the pact as a long-awaited catalyst for modernisation, cost efficiency, and export-led growth.

For decades, Indian textile manufacturers have grappled with high machinery costs and limited access to advanced technology, factors that restricted their ability to compete in premium global markets. The new FTA is now seen as a strategic opening that connects Indian producers directly with European machinery manufacturers, enabling a shift toward higher production standards.

Ravi Sahani, a prominent textile businessman from Sura...