The Chairman of the Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC), Dr. A. Sakthivel, has welcomed Union Commerce & Industry Minister Shri Piyush Goyal’s call to achieve USD 1 trillion in exports during FY 2026-27 under the visionary leadership of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. The announcement was made at the Board of Trade (BoT) meeting held in New Delhi on July 3.
The Board, comprising representatives from States, Union Territories, Export Promotion Councils and senior industry leaders, acknowledged and supported the USD 1 trillion in exports target and deliberated on strategies to accelerate India’s exports, maximise the benefits of recently concluded Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), and strengthen the country’s global trade competitiveness.
Addressing the meeting, Shri Piyush Goyal highlighted that India has concluded or operationalised Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with 38 countries, bringing nearly 65 per cent of the developed world under India’s FTA network and significantly expanding market access for Indian exporters. He urged all stakeholders to work towards achieving even higher export growth.
Welcoming the Minister’s vision, Dr. A. Sakthivel extended full support to the Government’s export vision and said that he is committed to playing his part in achieving and surpassing the national target.
“We welcome the Hon’ble Commerce Minister’s vision for India’s exports. With expanded market access through FTAs and continued policy support, we are confident that the apparel sector will make a significant contribution towards achieving the USD 1 trillion export target. AEPC and the industry stand fully committed to working closely with the Government to deliver on this national mission,” Dr. Sakthivel said.
During the meeting, Dr. Sakthivel submitted a comprehensive set of recommendations aimed at strengthening the competitiveness of the Indian apparel industry and accelerating export growth. The key proposals included:
- Enhancement of the Interest Subvention Scheme from 2.75 per cent to 5 per cent with coverage extended to all exporters and removal of the annual cap.
- Relief under the EPCG Scheme by relaxing Average Export Obligation requirements for exporters impacted by market disruptions, particularly those dependent on the US market.
- Continuation of the RoSCTL Scheme for at least the next 3 years, with extension of benefits to exporters operating under Advance Authorization, EOU and SEZ schemes.
- Creation of a dedicated Green Transformation Fund offering long-term soft loans for sustainability-related investments and ESG compliance.
- Introduction of a Special Scheme for the Apparel Sector (SSAS) based on self-ratification of input-output norms to simplify duty-free import of fabrics, reduce compliance burden and improve ease of doing business.
- Enhanced government support for worker hostels and affordable housing infrastructure across major apparel manufacturing clusters.
- Expedited implementation of PM MITRA Parks with a dedicated focus on Man-Made Fibre (MMF) production.
- Mandatory Registration-cum-Membership Certificate (RCMC) for availing export promotion schemes to strengthen institutional support and improve industry representation.
