The British Textile Machinery Association (BTMA) has launched the UK-India Textile Machinery Coalition, the trigger for which is the UK-India Free Trade Agreement signed in July 2025.
The official launch of the UK-India Textile Machinery Coalition took place on May 8 at the India ITME Centre in Mumbai.
“This trade deal has implications that extend across sourcing, competitiveness and long-term trade dynamics,” BTMA CEO Jason Kent believes.
“At its core, this deal removes or reduces tariffs on the vast majority of clothing and home textiles, with duties of around 8-12% on Indian exports to the UK effectively eliminated,” he explains.
“This gives Indian manufacturers significantly improved price competitiveness in one of the world’s most valuable consumer markets. For BTMA’s manufacturers of textile machinery too, it also has strategically important benefits, he adds.
India is one of the world’s largest textile producers and continues to invest heavily in modernising its mills – from spinning and weaving through to finishing. Improved trade terms, including reduced tariffs and clearer market access conditions, make it easier for UK machinery suppliers to compete in this expanding market.
Back in the UK, the BTMA has launched the Future Leaders Committee (FLC) aimed at high-potential, mid-career professionals within its member companies.
The FLC programme is being structured to develop leadership, governance and strategic capability through formal training and enable its members to gain exposure to industry-wide challenges and opportunities, while acting as an advisory committee providing fresh perspectives and future-focused insight to the organisation.
In further support to companies, the BTMA Industry Placement Bursary Scheme is designed to support member companies in taking on student placement graduates and apprentices, while strengthening the future skills pipeline of the textile machinery and services sector.
