Padmashri Dr. A. Sakthivel, one of India’s most respected industry leaders and a pioneer of the apparel export movement, has assumed charge as the Chairman of the Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC) for the fifth term in January 2026, marking a historic moment in his journey. He has been a board member of AEPC for the last 43 years. Through hard work, dedication and innovative trade practices he has sown the seed and nurtured Poppys Knitwear Pvt Ltd. to be one of the leading knitwear exporters of India.
Shri Rohit Kansal, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Textiles, wished the incoming Chairman Dr A Sakthivel and said Dr Sakthivel brings a lot of joy to every exporter through his warmth and affection. Speaking on the occasion of Dr Sakthivel taking over as Chairman AEPC, Shri Kansal said, “One world which defines the textiles industry is resilience. The government is cognizant of the difficulties of the industry and is ready to continue its support for boosting textiles exports.” The past Chairman Shri Sudhir Sekhri and other prominent members of the industry, representatives of buying houses and other dignitaries were also present on the occasion.
Dr. Sakthivel’s leadership has left an indelible mark on India’s apparel export ecosystem. His vision and relentless efforts have been instrumental in transforming Tiruppur into a global knitwear hub, with exports from the region growing from a modest ₹15 crore in 1984 to an extraordinary ₹45,000 crore in 2024–25. During his previous tenure he emphasized the production of Man-Made Fibre (MMF) garment and medical textiles which led to the introduction of MMF in the PLI Scheme.
In 2009, the Government of India honored him with ‘Padma Shri’ for his exceptional service in the export sector. Dr Sakthivel has also received an honorary Doctor of Literature degree from the Bharathiar University in 2011.
Well recognized for his consensus-building approach, Dr. Sakthivel has consistently championed the causes of competitiveness, employment generation, MSME empowerment, and sustainable growth. His leadership has been pivotal in aligning the industry with global best practices while ensuring that Indian exporters remain resilient and future-ready.
On taking charge for his fifth term, Dr. Sakthivel reiterated his commitment to working closely with the Government of India, state governments, and industry stakeholders to expand market access, leverage India’s growing network of FTAs, address emerging challenges such as sustainability compliance, and enhance India’s share in global apparel trade.
Dr. Sakthivel’s journey stands as a testament to his visionary leadership, collective effort, and the power of entrepreneurship in shaping India’s export success story—truly leaving an indelible mark on history.
Highlighting the immediate priority Dr. Sakthivel said, “It is to mitigate the adverse impact of the recent US tariff measures on Indian apparel exporters and the millions of workers dependent on the sector.” He thanked the government for recent support measures to the export sector in general and labor-intensive sectors like apparel in particular.” He reiterated that AEPC will continue to focus on export growth, market diversification and addressing emerging global trade challenges.
Under the leadership of Dr. Sakthivel, the AEPC team will aggressively promote the manufacturing of MMF garments for exports, while strengthening sustainability and ESG-focused capacity-building initiatives across the industry.
He has been on the board of NIFT, ECGC, UCO Bank, IDBI, etc. and has been an active member of various State Committees. Dr Sakthivel has also held the prestigious position of President FIEO the India Chamber of Commerce besides and TEA and continues to be the Chairman of the Apparel, Made-Ups & Home Furnishing Sector Skill Council (AMHSSC).
