AEPC Highlights FTA Opportunities For Tiruppur Apparel Exporters
The Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC) organised a seminar in Tiruppur on ‘Unlocking Growth Opportunities: FTA Utilization for Apparel Exporters’, bringing together apparel exporters, industry leaders, government officials and trade experts to discuss ways to maximise the benefits of India’s Free Trade Agreements (FTAs).
Addressing the gathering, Dr. A. Sakthivel, Chairman, AEPC, highlighted the growing opportunities available to Indian apparel exporters through India’s expanding network of FTAs. He emphasised the need for exporters to understand and effectively leverage these agreements to access new markets and strengthen their global competitiveness.
Mithileshwar Thakur, Secretary General, AEPC, stressed the importance of effectively utilising preferential tariff benefits while ensuring compliance with Rules of Origin and other FTA-related requirements. He highlighted that a clear understanding of the provisions of FTAs would enable exporters to convert tariff advantages into increased market access and business opportunities.
D. Sridhar, ITS, Additional DGFT, Coimbatore, urged exporters to prepare proactively for emerging opportunities under India’s trade agreements, particularly the India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) and the evolving India-EU trade framework.
Providing practical insights, Dr. Sanjay Kumar Mangla, Associate Professor, Economics and International Trade, SIMS, discussed key aspects of FTA utilisation, including Rules of Origin, Change in Tariff Heading (CTH), Qualifying Value Content (QVC), sourcing strategies and documentation requirements.
The discussions highlighted the importance of strengthening exporters’ understanding of FTA provisions and ensuring proper documentation and sourcing practices to successfully claim preferential tariff benefits.
