India–Swiss partnership can shape textile future: Cornelia Buchwalder

In this interview with Rakesh Rao, Cornelia Buchwalder, Secretary General, Swiss Textile Machinery, Swissmem, explains why Swiss expertise in precision, automation and efficiency positions it as a key enabler in strengthening India’s global competitiveness.

The Swiss textile machinery industry and the Indian textile sector share a strong and evolving partnership. Swiss expertise in precision, automation and efficiency positions it as a key enabler in strengthening India’s global competitiveness, states Cornelia Buchwalder, Secretary General, Swiss Textile Machinery, Swissmem, in this interview with Rakesh Rao.

How did the Swiss textile machinery industry perform in 2025?

If we look back at 2025, it was certainly not an easy year for the Swiss textile machinery industry. Total exports reached CHF 409.7 million, which represented a slight decline of 3.2 per cent compared with 2024. So overall, the market remained under pressure, and investment activity in many regions was still quite cautious.

If we focus on key textile markets, the picture was mixed. China remained an important destination for Swiss textile machinery exports, with shipments rising by 4.3 per cent to CHF 52.5 million. India, which is another highly relevant market for our members, accounted for CHF 44.6 million, although exports there declined by 14.5 per cent compared with the previous year. Exports to the US also increased, but the market environment there became more challenging, which created uncertainty for Swiss exporters.

So overall, 2025 was a demanding year, shaped by restrained investment, persistent uncertainty, and a very uneven regional picture. At the same time, the figures also show that demand did not weaken everywhere in the same way. For Swiss companies, it was therefore a year that required resilience, flexibility, and a continued focus on innovation.

What key factors are shaping demand for advanced textile machinery?

The global market is going through quite a fundamental shift at the moment. It is not just about overall volumes anymore, but much more about what kind of machinery customers need to stay competitive.

One important factor is supplying chain realignment. Many textile manufacturers are trying to make their operations more resilient by diversifying sourcing, reducing overdependence on single routes or regions, and improving their ability to respond quickly to disruptions. That is increasing demand for machinery that offers greater flexibility, shorter changeover times, reliable performance, and more transparency in production.

At the same time, sustainability has become a key driver. Customers are under increasing pressure to reduce their environmental footprint, so they are actively looking for solutions that save water, energy, and raw materials. This is no longer a “nice to have”; it has become a core investment criterion.

Digitalisation is also transforming the way textile production works. Machinery today needs to be connected, capable of generating and analysing data, and able to support smarter decision-making on the factory floor.

And then there is the topic of labour. In many countries, it is becoming increasingly difficult to find skilled workers. This is pushing manufacturers towards automation and more user-friendly machines. So, investment decisions are becoming much more selective: companies are not simply adding capacity, but looking for machinery that helps them improve efficiency, reduce resource consumption, simplify operation, and ensure consistent quality.

What challenges do textile manufacturers face, and how are Swiss companies supporting them?

Manufacturers today are really facing a combination of challenges. On the one hand, there are rising costs: energy, raw materials, compliance requirements which are putting pressure on margins. On the other hand, there is a lot of uncertainty in the market, making it difficult to plan ahead.

Labour is another major issue. In many regions, there is simply a shortage of skilled workers, which directly affects productivity and quality.

This is exactly where Swiss textile machinery companies can contribute. A strong focus is on automation, which helps reduce dependency on labour while ensuring consistent quality. At the same time, our members are developing technologies that significantly reduce energy and water consumption, which addresses both cost and sustainability concerns.

Another important aspect is ease of use. Machines are becoming more intuitive, which means they can be operated efficiently even with less specialised staff. Combined with digital tools for monitoring and optimisation, this allows manufacturers to run their operations much more effectively.

How important is India for Swiss textile machinery companies?

India is extremely important for our members, and its importance continues to grow. Even in a challenging global environment, India stands out as a market with strong potential and a clear ambition to develop its textile industry further.

One very positive development is the free trade agreement between Switzerland and India. This gives Swiss companies a certain competitive advantage and creates a more favourable framework for doing business. At the same time, we see a strong commitment from the Indian government to invest in and modernise the textile sector, which is very encouraging.

What makes India particularly interesting is the combination of a large domestic market and increasing export ambitions. There are opportunities across the entire value chain, from modernising existing mills to expanding into new segments like technical textiles and man-made fibres.

How can Swiss companies support India’s focus on technical textiles and man-made fibre (MMF)?

Swiss companies can contribute in a very meaningful way here, because these segments require exactly the kind of expertise that our members offer. India is clearly making a strong effort to strengthen both technical textiles and man-made fibres through supportive policies, investment incentives, and a broader push to modernise and expand the textile industry. There is a clear focus on increasing domestic manufacturing capabilities, encouraging innovation, and building a stronger ecosystem for higher-value textile applications.

This creates strong opportunities for Swiss textile engineering companies. In technical textiles, for example, precision and reliability are crucial. Swiss machinery is known for delivering consistent, high-quality results, which is essential for applications such as medical textiles, filtration, mobility or industrial uses. In the area of man-made fibres, the focus is often on efficiency, process stability, and quality consistency. Here, Swiss technologies can help improve productivity, reduce waste, optimise energy use and support high-performance production.

But it is not only about the machines themselves. Training, knowledge transfer, and long-term technical support are equally important. Swiss companies typically work very closely with their customers to ensure that new technologies are implemented successfully and deliver real value. In that sense, they can support India not just with equipment, but with the know-how needed to strengthen these sectors in a sustainable and globally competitive way.

What trends will shape the textile industry over the next decade?

Looking ahead, I think we will see a continued convergence of automation, digitalisation, and sustainability.

Automation will go even further, with factories becoming increasingly autonomous and requiring fewer manual interventions. At the same time, digitalisation will connect all stages of production, allowing for real-time monitoring and optimisation.

Sustainability will also become even more central. It will no longer be a differentiating factor but a basic requirement for doing business.

Another important trend is flexibility. Manufacturers will need to respond more quickly to changing market demands, which means production systems must become more adaptable.

These are not distant developments, they are already happening, and they will define the industry over the next decade.

What is your outlook for the Swiss textile machinery industry in 2026?

For 2026, I would describe the outlook as cautious rather than optimistic. There are still quite a few uncertainties in the market, and many of the challenges we saw in 2025 have not disappeared.

Global demand remains somewhat fragile, and investment decisions are still being made very carefully. On top of that, geopolitical tensions and rising energy costs are creating additional pressure, both for textile manufacturers and for machinery suppliers. Higher energy prices are affecting production costs across the entire value chain, which tends to delay or slow down investment in new equipment.

At the same time, structural challenges such as currency fluctuations continue to play a role for Swiss exporters. All of this means that the market environment is likely to remain demanding in the near term.

That said, there are still opportunities. The ongoing shift towards more efficient, automated, and sustainable production is continuing, and this is an area where Swiss companies have strong expertise. So, while we may not see a strong recovery immediately, there is a solid foundation for gradual improvement once market conditions stabilise.

Your message for the Indian textile industry…

India has a very strong opportunity right now to further strengthen its position in the global textile industry. The foundations are there: a large and dynamic market, clear industrial ambition, and a strong willingness to modernise. The next step is to continue investing in advanced technologies, to embrace digitalisation and automation, and to keep sustainability firmly at the centre of development.

From our side, Swiss textile machinery companies are very committed to working with Indian partners on this journey. We see this not just as a business relationship, but as a long-term collaboration.

In this context, India ITME 2026 will be a very important platform for exchange and engagement. It will bring together technology providers and textile manufacturers at a time when the industry is looking closely at investment, modernisation, and future competitiveness. For many of our members, it will be a key opportunity to showcase innovation, strengthen partnerships, and deepen dialogue with the Indian textile and apparel industry.

Overall, I believe there is a real opportunity for India and Swiss technology providers to shape the next phase of textile manufacturing together, in a way that is efficient, sustainable, and future-ready.