The Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC) organised a seminar on “Unlocking Growth Opportunities: FTA Utilization for Apparel Exporters” in Tiruppur as part of its Pan India Seminar Series. Held at Poppys Vista Hotel and supported by Kotak Mahindra Bank, the seminar brought together apparel exporters, industry leaders, government representatives and trade experts to discuss how India’s expanding Free Trade Agreement (FTA) network can translate into greater exports and competitiveness.
Addressing the gathering, Dr. A. Sakthivel, Chairman, AEPC, said India’s expanding FTA network is opening a major new opportunity for the apparel industry. Once the proposed agreement with the European Union is finalised, India will have recently signed FTAs with 38 countries, including the 27 EU member states, covering around 65 per cent of the global population. He noted that these markets offer significant potential for Indian apparel as they do not have comparable apparel manufacturing capacity.
Dr. Sakthivel urged exporters to prepare for the opportunity by increasing capacity, improving competitiveness and actively exploring new markets. He said AEPC is encouraging exporters to participate in international fairs and is also facilitating buyer visits to India and Tiruppur.
“Prepare yourself for export. Increase your capacity. I will make sure you will not be disappointed. The future is ours,” Dr. Sakthivel said, expressing confidence in the growth prospects of the Indian apparel industry.
Shri Mithileshwar Thakur, Secretary General, AEPC, highlighted the need to move beyond merely signing trade agreements and focus on their actual utilisation by exporters. He said that the real benefit of an FTA is realised only when exporters are able to identify applicable preferences, meet Rules of Origin and sourcing requirements, complete documentation and compliance requirements, and successfully claim the preferential tariff.
He emphasised that FTA utilisation needs to begin at the product and sourcing stage, with exporters factoring tariff preferences and origin requirements into product costing, pricing and buyer negotiations from the outset.
Shri D. Sridhar, ITS, Additional DGFT, Coimbatore, said India’s recent FTAs, particularly the India-UK CETA, have opened a major opportunity for Tiruppur’s apparel exporters by improving their competitiveness in the UK market, with nearly 99 per cent of goods gaining zero-duty access. He said the India-EU agreement, expected to be a major game-changer when it comes into effect, could further expand market opportunities for Indian apparel. However, he cautioned that preferential access can only be converted into business if exporters understand and comply with key requirements, particularly correct HS classification, Rules of Origin and Certificates of Origin. He highlighted the DGFT’s digital platform for seamless, paperless self-certification and urged exporters to prepare their documentation and systems now rather than wait for the EU agreement. “Get ready for 2027,” he said, stressing that the Government has done its part at the negotiating table and the opportunity now rests with industry to convert it into orders, jobs and growth.
Dr. Sanjay Kumar Mangla, Associate Professor, Economics and International Trade, Symbiosis Institute of Management Studies (SIMS), delivered a detailed technical presentation on the practical aspects of FTAs and their utilisation by exporters. He emphasised that while India’s expanding FTA network creates a major new growth opportunity, duty-free or preferential market access alone does not guarantee export success. Exporters need to identify the right products and markets, correctly apply Rules of Origin and Product-Specific Rules, understand requirements such as Change in Tariff Heading (CTH) and Qualifying Value Content (QVC), maintain robust documentation and strategically manage sourcing.
Dr. Mangla also highlighted the potential of the India-UK CETA and the emerging India-EU trade framework to strengthen India’s competitive position in major apparel markets.
A presentation by Kotak Mahindra Bank was also part of the programme, followed by an interactive Q&A session that enabled participating exporters to discuss practical issues and seek greater clarity on the effective utilisation of FTAs.
The programme concluded with a Vote of Thanks by Shri N. Thirukumaran, EC Member, AEPC, who expressed his sincere gratitude to Chairman Dr. A. Sakthivel, Secretary General Shri Mithileshwar Thakur, Dr. Sanjay Kumar Mangla, Shri D. Sridhar, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Poppys Vista Hotel and all the participating exporters and industry representatives. He thanked the Chairman and Secretary General for their continued guidance and support and appreciated the exporters for their enthusiastic participation and valuable inputs. He noted that the strong participation and engaging questions during the Q&A session reflected Tiruppur’s keen interest in leveraging India’s FTAs more effectively to strengthen competitiveness, explore new markets and drive export growth.
The Tiruppur seminar reaffirmed AEPC’s commitment to helping exporters convert India’s expanding FTA network into new markets, larger orders, higher capacity utilisation and sustained export growth.
