Dr. A. Sakthivel, Chairman of AEPC & IKFA, along with Thiru K.M. Subramanian, EC Member, AEPC and President, Tiruppur Exporters’ Association (TEA), met Hon’ble Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Thiru C. Joseph Vijay, in Chennai on 29 May 2026 and submitted a memorandum seeking support for the growth of Tamil Nadu’s apparel industry and achievement of the USD 15 Billion apparel export target by 2030.
Dr. Sakthivel congratulated the Chief Minister on his electoral victory and expressed confidence that Tamil Nadu would witness accelerated industrial growth under his leadership.
During the meeting, he highlighted the importance of the apparel sector to the State’s economy, noting that Tiruppur accounts for nearly 68% of India’s knitwear exports and that the sector provides employment to over 10 lakh workers, with women constituting around 65% of the workforce.
Dr. Sakthivel emphasized that Tamil Nadu has immense potential to emerge as a global hub for sustainable apparel manufacturing and outlined the industry’s vision to achieve USD 15 Billion in apparel exports by 2030.
The memorandum sought support in key areas including worker housing, MSME assistance, technology upgradation, logistics and port infrastructure, international cargo facilities at Coimbatore Airport, sustainable manufacturing initiatives, regulatory simplification, skill development, AI adoption, and expeditious implementation of PM MITRA Park.
The AEPC Chairman also appreciated the State Government’s focus on Artificial Intelligence and digital transformation, stating that AI would play a significant role in enhancing productivity, compliance, design, and competitiveness in the apparel sector.
The Hon’ble Chief Minister assured that the Government would positively consider the industry’s representations and continue to work closely with stakeholders to strengthen Tamil Nadu’s position as a leading global apparel manufacturing and export hub.
Dr. Sakthivel expressed confidence that with the Government’s support, the USD 15 Billion export target could be achieved, generating substantial employment and economic growth for the State. AEPC also assured its continued cooperation with the Government in all initiatives aimed at promoting apparel exports.
