Tirupur is looking to the Indo-Pacific economic corridor in the hope it would open up traditional apparel markets. This treaty is likely to have 12 countries including India, the US, Australia, Indonesia, Japan and New Zealand, on board. Under the treaty, each country is expected to provide a conducive climate for trade exchanges for different members and investment to develop infrastructure.

Recently, the US had announced investment worth $113 million in new infrastructure initiatives in the corridor. The corridor will provide a platform for grouping of selected nations and it will help others to develop their economies. If the partners are provided preferred status by other nations, it will be a win-win situation for both the sides.

Especially in the apparel market, India could utilise the advantage, if the US, which has a traditional apparel market, provides a lower import tariff and a softer approach. Apparel exporters in India could get a huge help from the corridor.

Though the economic corridor is mainly mooted to counter the advantages of China, it will not affect the neighboring country much, at least in the apparel market. Since Chinese firms have already made big investments in countries such as Bangladesh, Vietnam and Cambodia, which are top competitors of India in the apparel industry, the former may not feel the heat of the corridor.