Karnataka secures Rs 2,821 crore investment commitments at Bharat Tex 2026

Bengaluru, Jul 15 (PTI) Karnataka has secured investment commitments worth Rs 2,821 crore through the signing of 12 MoUs at Bharat Tex 2026, officials said on Wednesday. The agreements are expected to generate 11,020 employment opportunities across the state's textile and apparel sector. The investments span spinning, apparel manufacturing, textile processing, technical textiles, medical textiles, hygiene products and integrated textile parks, covering districts such as Kalaburagi, Chitradurga, Ramanagara, Mysuru, Chamarajanagara, Udupi, Dakshina Kannada, Chikkaballapura and Kolar, they said. According to a statement, the MoUs were facilitated during the "Investment Opportunities in Karnataka & MoU Signing" session at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. The session was chaired by Rohini Sindhuri, Secretary to Government, Commerce and Industries Department, along with A B Basavaraju, Commissioner for Textile Development and Director of Handlooms and Textiles. Addressing leading textile manufacturers, exporters, investors and industry leaders, Sindhuri said Karnataka was rapidly emerging as India's preferred destination for textile and apparel investments, supported by progressive policies, world-class infrastructure and a complete "Fibre to Fashion" ecosystem. "Karnataka is not merely the garment capital of India. We are a complete Fibre to Fashion ecosystem where tradition, technology, sustainability and manufacturing excellence come together. We invite investors from across India and the world to partner in Karnataka's next phase of industrial growth," she said. She said the proposed Karnataka Textile and Apparel Policy 2026-2031, being formulated under the leadership of Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, aims to attract Rs 20,000 crore in investments and create five lakh employment opportunities over the next five years, with special emphasis on Kalyana Karnataka and Tier-II and Tier-III cities. The proposed policy focuses on creating one of India's most investor-friendly textile ecosystems through single-window clearances, fast-track approvals, plug-and-play industrial infrastructure, targeted incentives, skill development, innovation partnerships and sustainable manufacturing practices, the statement said. Sindhuri said Karnataka already contributes nearly 20 per cent of India's garment production, 12 per cent of garment exports valued at around USD 2.7 billion, and 43 per cent of the country's mulberry silk production, making it one of India's leading textile manufacturing hubs. She highlighted the development of the 1,000-acre PM MITRA Mega Textile Park at Kalaburagi, along with integrated textile parks at Doddaballapur, Shiggaon and Davanagere, which are expected to significantly strengthen Karnataka's manufacturing competitiveness and attract large-scale investments, the statement added. Bharat Tex 2026, India's largest global textile event, is being held here from July 14 to 17, with participation from more than 120 countries, such as the US, the UK and Bangladesh. PTI AMP SSK