Tirupur looks at boosting export via pacts with Canada, Oz

With Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) expected in September, exports from the knitwear hub of Tirupur is likely to grow by 20 to 50 per cent in a few years, an exporters' association functionary has said.
Exports of readymade garments, which were Rs 12,500 crore three years ago have almost touched Rs 21,000 crore in 2014-15, witnessing 17 per cent growth over last year, Tirupur Exporters' Association president, A Shaktivel told PTI here last night.
Shaktivel expressed confidence that though exports to Canada from Tirupur was nil, despite India's exports of Rs 650 crore, CEPA would boost exports from Tirupur, which can register at least Rs 200 crore in the initial year, with major markets still being the US and European Union.

The prime ministers of both the countries recently discussed the CEPA issue for mutual benefit, by which India can get master trainers for developing skills, he said.
Moreover, garment manufacturers were now concentrating more on polyester and viscose material, to compete with China and at least 15 to 25 per cent market can be captured in the long run, he said, adding, compared to China, India has also labour advantage, to give that nation a run for its money.
Similarly, an agreement with Australia, another major market, could also create a conducive atmosphere for exporters from here, he said.
Besides, manufacturers here have ventured into technical garments like cool mats, anti-bacterial and sweat management, for which the demand was growing across the globe, particularly in sports wears, he said.

Moreover, there were lot of investments going into latest printing machinery, such as 3D, which were hitherto available only in Italy and Turkey, that would add value and also give edge to the products from Tirupur, Shaktivel said.