The ongoing conflict in West Asia has begun to affect the textile industry in Bhilwara, Rajasthan, with export orders being stalled and trade disruptions impacting shipments worth around Rs 800 to Rs 1,000 crore, industry representatives said.

India’s diamond exporters are boosting rough stone purchases from Antwerp and Africa. The West Asia conflict has disrupted the Dubai trade corridor. Demand for rare white and coloured diamonds is increasing. Investors are turning to these diamonds as a safe investment. India processes most of the world’s polished diamonds.

Gold prices dipped on Thursday, influenced by a stronger dollar and renewed inflation concerns stemming from higher oil prices. This dampened expectations for imminent interest rate cuts. Meanwhile, oil prices surged amid supply constraints in the Gulf and tensions in the Strait of Hormuz.

India sets its sights on transforming into a $350 billion textile powerhouse with $100 billion in exports by the fiscal year 2030-31. To achieve this ambitious target, the industry must elevate its operations to scale up production, enhance value, and streamline garment manufacturing year-round. Moreover, leveraging free trade agreements for market access is crucial.

Turkiye’s exports increased by 1.6 per cent YoY to $21.65 billion in February, with exports of chemicals and RMG declining, Turkiye Exporters Assembly (TIM) chairman Mustafa Gultepe and Minister of Trade Omer Bolat announced recently.
RMG exports in February were worth $1.3 billion—a drop of 2 per cent YoY, while chemical exports were worth $2.3 billion—a decrease of 7 per cent YoY.

Actress Malaika Arora has launched her lifestyle accessories brand, Maejoy, in collaboration with Exceed Entertainment and Myntra Jabong. The brand debuts with over 250 styles, including handbags and lab-grown diamond jewelry, aiming to offer accessible yet elevated fashion inspired by global trends.

Activewear brand TechnoSport has appointed Achal Sharma as its new chief technology officer. Sharma will spearhead the company’s technology strategy and digital transformation. His role involves overseeing digital platforms, engineering, data science, and product capabilities. This move aims to strengthen TechnoSport’s technology architecture and support its growth. Sharma brings extensive experience in scaling technology teams from previous leadership roles.

Coats Digital announced that Northshore Apparel Ghana Ltd has adopted its full digital suite—GSDCost, FastReactPlan and FastReactFabric—to power Northern Ghana’s first sustainable apparel manufacturing hub.
The solutions will enable precise costing, efficient planning and fabric optimisation, supporting ethical production, zero-waste operations and large-scale job creation in the region.

Surat-based Ajmera Fashion Limited is preparing for a public market debut with a planned SME IPO in FY27. The ethnic apparel company aims to strengthen its brand and expand its franchise network. Ajmera Fashion expects significant revenue and profit growth in the coming years. A pre-IPO private placement is also being explored to value the business.

Bangladesh will keep customs houses operating on a limited scale during the Eid holidays to ensure uninterrupted trade.
Import and export processing will continue from March 17 to March 23, except on Eid day.
The move aims to prevent supply chain disruptions and support smooth cargo clearance and shipments during the extended holiday period.