Tamil Nadu to align textile policy with Tiruppur textile sector

The Tamil Nadu government is set to align its new textile policy with Tiruppur's pivotal role in the apparel value chain. This announcement was made by Dharmendra Pratap Yadav, Principal Secretary-Handlooms, Handicrafts, Textiles, and Khadi Department, at the 51st India International Knit Fair. The three-day fair, themed 'Preserving Our Planet by Innovation and Circularity,' was organized by the Indian Knit Fair Association (IKFA) and the Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC).

Highlighting the Tiruppur’s contribution to the manufacturing sector, Yadav said with over Rs 35,000 crore in export business and Rs 25,000 crore in domestic trade, Tiruppur would be a leader in implementing ESG (Environmental and Social Governance) principles, attracting further investments in the garment sector.

Recognizing the need to modernize Tamil Nadu's spinning sector, which accounts for 35 per cent of India's total production, Yadav stated the state government offers a 6 per cent interest subvention for industries undertaking machinery modernization. Additionally, Tamil Nadu is also pushing for growth in technical textiles and exports, as outlined in its industrial policy.

The government has allocated Rs 25 crore to establish a design center focused on research and development in manufacturing and processing innovations aligned with international trends, Yadav added. A Sakthivel, Chairman of the Indian Knit Fair Association, noted that 40 of the 100 participating buying houses and agents at the fair were from overseas. Highlighting the Tiruppur Exporters' Association's (TEA) commitment to its 'Green Tiruppur' initiatives, he expressed hope that the government would support their efforts to strengthen ESG standards in the region.

K M Subramanian, President of TEA, projected Tiruppur manufacturers would soon increase their diversification into man-made fibers by 10 per cent from the current 20 per cent. Industry leaders, including Rohit Aneja, Secretary of the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) Alumni Association, Rohini Suri, Patron of IKFA, and Sanjay Shukla, Group Leader of Triburg, emphasized the importance of this shift. With around 70 per cent of global textile trade being conducted in MMF, increasing Tiruppur's focus on polyester production would significantly advance the region's development trajectory, Shukla pointed out.