Karnataka is planning to set up two Textile Export Facilitation Centres to help weavers, textile producers and exporters better access global markets. The centres have been proposed for North Karnataka and Doddaballapur, near Bengaluru, with the Karnataka chief secretary submitting the proposal to the central government.
Speaking on the sidelines of the ongoing National Handloom Expo 2026 in Bengaluru on Saturday, Rohini Sindhuri, secretary, MSME, Mines and Textiles Department, said the proposed centres would bring a range of export-related services under one roof. “These would include guidance on export procedures, documentation, international quality standards, global market opportunities and buyer linkages,” she said.
The move comes as Karnataka looks to leverage its diverse textile ecosystem, spanning handlooms, silk, garments, textile manufacturing and value-added textile products, and connect it more effectively with demand in overseas markets.
“There are immense opportunities for Karnataka’s handloom and textile products in global markets. However, along with product quality, exporters need access to market intelligence, certification, documentation support and buyer linkages. The proposed export facilitation centres are aimed at bringing these essential services together on a single platform,” Sindhuri said.
The North Karnataka centre is expected to provide weavers, producers and textile entrepreneurs in the region with easier access to export-related support, while the proposed centre at Doddaballapur, in Bengaluru Rural, is aimed at supporting the textile and garment ecosystem in Bengaluru and surrounding areas, according to Sindhuri. The government is also focusing on infrastructure development, technology adoption, skill development, market linkages and export promotion to expand the state’s textile exports in the coming years.
Meanwhile, the state government is also looking to expand domestic market access for its handloom sector. A B Basavaraju, textile development commissioner and director, Department of Handlooms and Textiles, said the 14-day National Handloom Expo currently under way in Bengaluru has received a good response. “The department plans to organise major handloom exhibition and sales expos in Bidar and Devanahalli to take the products to a wider customer base,” he said.
The government has also identified Bengaluru Rural, Bengaluru Urban, Mysuru and Hassan as ‛champion districts’, while Ballari, Gadag, Haveri and Bagalkot have been classified as ‘aspirational districts’ under central government guidelines. “Special training workshops are being conducted for officials and entrepreneurs from these districts to familiarise them with export procedures and opportunities in global markets,” Basavaraju said.
