The Indian High Commission in Colombo in association with the Cotton Textile Export Promotion Council of India has organised an Indian Cotton Textile Show at which 16 leading Indian textile manufacturers will display their products.

India, the world’s second largest producer of cotton textiles with a 14% market share globally, will showcase an array of the fabrics it can offer the garments industry here at this show to be held from Feb. 12 - 14 at the Taj Samudra Hotel in Colombo.

With Sri Lanka’s apparel export industry growing over sevenfold in a decade, and the country emerging as a leading apparel supplier worldwide, the Indian textile industry has seen growing opportunities for supplying cotton based fabrics and yarn to the Sri Lankan industry.

The Indian High Commission said in a news release that Sri Lanka imports USD 1.5 billion worth of textiles annually to support the garment manufacturing industry and this creates an opportunity to develop synergy that will be mutually benefit Indian suppliers and Sri Lankan buyers.

"This arrangement will open avenues for Sri Lankan apparel industry to look more positively at emerging Indian market as well due to reduction of tariff and non-tariff barriers and access to vast emerging retail network," a news release from the High Commission said.

The High Commission said that with the removal of quotas for certain categories of Sri Lankan garments like trousers, shirts and blouses by the European Union, export volumes from here to Europe will grow significantly. The cotton textile show will give buyers here an opportunity to interact with Indian suppliers on the changing needs arising from the new agreement between Sri Lanka and the European Union.

India believes that she is the "first and natural choice" for the apparel industry here to source its cotton fabric needs given the geographical proximity of the two countries and the wide range of products on offer in India.

The news release said that importing countries including Sri Lanka looked to India as a prime supplying source for several reasons including the wide varieties of raw cottons available as well as the low cost of production.

"India is extremely competitive in cotton-dominated products both in quality and price," the news release said.

India has over 150 years experience in cotton textiles and a large pool of skilled manpower. She is the world’s third largest producer of cotton, with an operational flexibility enabling supplies of small and big quantities of materials simultaneously.

Some of the top textile companies from all parts of India will be participating at the show and exhibiting a wide range of cotton textile products including woven fabrics, twills, drills, denims, dobby, satins, poplins, fine count shirting, Madras checks, prints furnishings, home textiles and many more.