Jaipur: The Union Ministry of Textiles has inaugurated a Textile Export Facilitation Centre (TEFC) in Jaipur to help bridge the gap between production and international markets, with end-to-end support for exporters, especially small and medium enterprises. The centre, set up by the ministry’s Textiles Committee, was launched by Amrit Raj, development commissioner for handicrafts.Speaking at the event, Raj said the facility would benefit small and new exporters, noting that India’s textile exports remain under 1% in nearly 40 countries. “This centre will provide vital information on market demands, trade agreements, incentive schemes, and associated risks,” she said. Industry leaders, including Rakshit Poddar, president of the Garment Exporters Association of Rajasthan, and general secretary Amit Maheshwari, said the Jaipur TEFC would be a major boost for young entrepreneurs entering garment exports. Jaipur is the sixth pilot centre after Karur, Surat, Ichalkaranji, Varanasi and Ludhiana. Officials said the centre will work closely with exporters and offer faster certification, training and market intelligence. Certificates of origin, often issued within four to five hours, will help exporters access preferential duties in overseas markets.The facility will also support exporters looking to enter newer markets such as Latin America, where demand for Indian textiles remains largely untapped. Officials said Brazil and Argentina offer significant opportunities beyond India’s traditional dependence on the US and Europe.The centre will help exporters make better use of free trade agreements with countries such as Australia and the UAE, where duty benefits of up to 5% often go unused.Another key focus will be helping businesses deal with non-tariff barriers in developed markets, including sustainability and traceability requirements. Committee officials said advisory services will support compliance with rules of origin, harmonised system classification and ethical sourcing certifications.Training modules will cover everything from basic onboarding, such as obtaining an import export code, to advanced strategies on pricing and compliance. Jaipur was selected as a pilot centre because of its strong base in traditional textiles, handicrafts, garments and carpets, though export volumes remain below potential.
