India, Nov. 2 -- The textile and apparel (T&A) sector remains central to India's economy, contributing significantly to the Gross Domestic Product (2.3%), industrial production (13%), and exports (12%). It directly employs around 45 million people, providing livelihoods across rural and urban areas, and creates jobs for unskilled, semi-skilled, and female workers. However, despite this potential, India's T&A sector accounted for only 4.8% of global exports in 2023. The country's strength lies in its raw materials, particularly cotton, where it holds 14% of global exports. As it prepares for the future, India's T&A industry will need to penetrate the growing Man-Made Fibre (MMF) segment, which now accounts for approximately half of global ...