The Indian High Commissioner in Namibia launched the Incredible World of Indian Textiles and Cotton exhibition in Windhoek to showcase that country's textile heritage and promote its cotton globally.
The exhibition will end on the 22nd of September.
The Indian textile and apparel market is projected to grow at a compounded 10% annually, to reach N$6.4 trillion by 2030.
Total cotton production in the 2024/25 season is estimated at 30 million bales of 170 kilograms each.
The industry is said to be expanding, with total textile and apparel exports projected to reach over N$1.1 trillion by 2026 and N$1.7 trillion by 2030.
"Indian textiles, especially cotton and silk, are highly priced commodities, including the famous silk robes. Indian weavers became renowned for these skills, creating patterns and designs for the exporters, and this is done to this day," said India's High Commissioner to Namibia, Rahul Shrivastava.
India is the sixth largest exporter of textiles and apparel, and in the 2025 financial year, it stood at $634 billion, with a share of cotton textiles at $209 billion.
"We export these textiles now to South Africa. Because of the high import duties, we don't have so many imports of textiles to Namibia, but we are working on an agreement with SACU member countries, of which Namibia is a coordinator, and once that happens, the textiles from India will come here, and I hope we will export more to Namibia."
The industry has around 45 million workers, including over three million handloom workers across the country.
"Innovation continues to drive the industry. With the growing emphasis on sustainable and eco-friendly materials, designers and manufacturers are exploring organic materials and environmental practices that drive the global trend towards sustainability."
As part of its efforts to promote business networking, trend forecasting, innovation, and export opportunities, India hosts several textile and apparel trade fairs and exhibitions annually to encourage manufacturers, exporters, buyers, designers, and industry professionals to showcase their textiles.