India–Oman CEPA set to boost textile and apparel exports, says CITI

According to CITI Chairman, CEPA, along with India’s existing and upcoming free trade agreements (FTAs), will strengthen the country’s position in key markets, support export diversification.

The Confederation of Indian Textile Industry (CITI) has welcomed the signing of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between India and Oman on December 18, calling it a major boost for the country’s textile and apparel exports.

India is the second-largest exporter of textile and apparel products to Oman, after China, with shipments worth $131.76 million in 2024. “We congratulate the Prime Minister, the Commerce Minister, and all officials involved in finalising the CEPA with Oman, a market that has consistently shown strong growth potential for Indian textile and apparel products,” said Ashwin Chandran, Chairman, CITI.

According to Chandran, the CEPA will enhance market access, make Indian products more competitive in pricing, and significantly scale up exports to Oman. The agreement provides India zero-duty access to 98.08 per cent of Oman’s tariff lines, covering 99.38 per cent of India’s exports by value.

He further highlighted that the CEPA, along with India’s existing and upcoming free trade agreements (FTAs), will strengthen the country’s position in key markets, support export diversification, and help achieve the national target of $100 billion in textile and apparel exports by 2030.

India signed the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) with the UK in July and is in advanced FTA discussions with the European Union and New Zealand. Bilateral trade talks are also ongoing with the US. Indian textile and apparel exports reached nearly $38 billion in FY 2024-25.

“November 2025 export data reflects Indian exporters’ resilience amid global headwinds and their ability to explore new markets. The India–Oman CEPA will further accelerate this diversification,” Chandran added.