Mumbai : Maharashtra’s ‘Farm to Foreign’ initiative aims to connect farmers, manufacturers, entrepreneurs and the global fashion industry, positioning the state as a major textile and export hub, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said.
He was speaking as the chief guest at the ‘Farm to Foreign Conclave 2026’, organised by the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) at the Jio World Centre in Mumbai.
Organised by the ASSOCHAM Maharashtra State Council under the theme “Advancing India’s 5F Vision for Sustainable & Traceable Textile Value Chains,” the conclave brought together policymakers, industry leaders, manufacturers, sustainability experts, and key stakeholders. The initiative aligned with the Government’s 5F Vision—Farm to Fibre to Factory to Fashion to Foreign—deliberating strategies to strengthen India’s global competitiveness, accelerate climate-resilient fibre production, and establish traceable, circular textile ecosystems
Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of ‘Viksit Bharat @2047’, Shinde said Maharashtra is pursuing a ‘5F’ approach Farm to Fibre, Fibre to Factory, Factory to Fashion and Fashion to Foreign. The objective is not merely to process agricultural produce within the state but to create globally recognised brands from Maharashtra’s cotton, silk, jute and other agricultural products.
Building on Maharashtra’s textile legacy
Maharashtra has a long and distinguished association with the textile industry. Mumbai’s emergence as the country’s financial capital was closely linked to its historic textile mills. Building on this legacy, the state is now creating modern infrastructure and investment opportunities to give the textile sector a new direction.
Projects such as the PM MITRA Park in Nagpur and the Amravati Textile Cluster will provide fresh impetus to the textile industry, generate employment and strengthen Maharashtra’s economy, Shinde said.
He emphasised that the future of manufacturing will depend not only on increasing production but also on making industries green, digital and transparent. The state is promoting ready-made garment clusters in major textile centres such as Ichalkaranji and Bhiwandi, opening up new avenues for employment, entrepreneurship and investment.
Shri Eknath Shinde, Hon’ble Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, said: “From Maharashtra’s farms to the world’s markets, our textile journey must create value at every step. Our vision is not merely to produce more, but to produce sustainably, traceably and competitively so that every fibre carries the strength of our farmers, the innovation of our industry and the identity of a New India. The 5F vision gives us the roadmap to turn Maharashtra into a global hub for textiles, innovation and value-added manufacturing.”
Empowering women
The state is also focusing on providing women with modern tailoring and garment-making skills through initiatives linked to the ‘Ladki Bahin’ scheme. By connecting skill development with employment and entrepreneurship, these initiatives are aimed at creating opportunities for women to become financially independent.
Paithani and Kolhapuri products to global markets
Maharashtra’s traditional products, including the iconic Paithani sarees and Kolhapuri footwear, are also being promoted for international markets. A Textile, Craft and Cultural Museum is being developed at the historic India United Mill site in Byculla. The museum will showcase Maharashtra’s rich textile, handicraft and cultural heritage to visitors from India and across the world.
World-class infrastructure
Maharashtra’s expanding infrastructure network will further strengthen the state’s position as a global manufacturing and export destination. The Samruddhi Mahamarg, Navi Mumbai International Airport and JNPA port will significantly improve connectivity and enable products manufactured in Maharashtra to reach domestic and international markets faster.
Highlighting the state’s strategic location and readiness, Milind Hardikar, Chairman of the ASSOCHAM Maharashtra State Council, noted, “Maharashtra has an important role to play in this journey. With a strong industrial base, entrepreneurial ecosystem, manufacturing capabilities, world-class logistics infrastructure and a vibrant textile sector, Maharashtra is uniquely positioned to advance India’s 5F vision through sustainable manufacturing, innovation, investments and export-oriented growth.”
He Also added, “The 5F vision, Farm to Fibre to Factory to Fashion to Foreign is far more than a sectoral roadmap; it is a blueprint for building an integrated, future-ready textile value chain. Going forward, global competitiveness will be defined not only by capacity, productivity and product diversity, but by how responsibly we source our raw materials, manage our environmental footprint, uphold social accountability and ensure end-to-end visibility across the supply chain. India has all the ingredients to lead this transformation. What we need now is greater integration, stronger collaboration and a collective commitment to turning sustainability from a compliance requirement into a source of competitive advantage.”
Smt. Chinmayee Deulgaonkar, Chair, Sustainability Sector, ASSOCHAM Maharashtra State Council, in her concluding remarks, reaffirmed the importance of coordinated action among policymakers, industry, technology providers, sustainability stakeholders and other participants to advance India’s 5F Vision and build a resilient, sustainable and globally competitive textile ecosystem.
During the conclave, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde also released the ASSOCHAM Knowledge Paper in collaboration with Control Union, highlighting the chamber’s continued engagement with industry and policymakers on issues shaping India’s economic and industrial growth