State-led growth, investment avenues, and expanding textile trade relations with the world were in focus on the second day of Bharat Tex 2026, which saw participation from state governments, policymakers, industry representatives, and trade experts.

The day's programme featured key state sessions. A session featuring Handloom and Textiles Minister Rakesh Sachan and Stamp and Registration Minister Ravindra Jaiswal was organised to showcase the development of the textile ecosystem in Uttar Pradesh, which includes the manufacturing sector, apparel industry, handloom and handicrafts sectors. The Karnataka State Session highlighted the industry potential of Karnataka and its sourcing opportunities, while the Maharashtra session titled "Maharashtra: An Attractive Global Destination for Technical Textiles in India" highlighted the capabilities of the state in the highly specialised technical textiles sector, with Textiles Minister Sanjay Savkare present at the event.

Another key focus area of the day's programme was global trade and free trade agreements. In a roundtable on ‘India's FTA Moment: Gateway for Textile Value Chains, Market Access and Sourcing Decisions’, Deloitte discussed the potential of FTAs for textile manufacturers, exporters, and sourcing organisations. The Ministerial Discussion, titled "India-UK CETA in Action: Shaping the Future of Textile Trade and Investment", explored the potential of the India-UK CETA to boost bilateral trade and investment in textiles.

The session "Beyond China: Building Tariff-Safe, Compliant & Traceable Hemp Supply Chains for Global Markets" focused on the need for a diversified and reliable supply chain. The day concluded with designer addresses on Brand India – ‘Global Ambitions: Redefining Retail Growth Beyond Borders’ featuring Rahul Mishra and Vaishali Shadangule, along with a NIFT fireside chat on building profitable global fashion businesses from India.

The CITI Textile Sustainability Awards 2026 were also presented, recognising efforts in resource efficiency, energy and emissions management, circular economy, sustainable materials, social responsibility, responsible business, and industry collaboration.