Tamil Nadu is optimistic about exports to the UAE and Australia.

The optimism is based on the fact that the UAE is the gateway to Africa and the Arab world and Australia is a large continent with a growing market.

India signed free trade agreements with both countries in 2022 and they have already been showing their effects for several months. Textiles, leather and footwear are among the industries which are expected to benefit from the free trade agreements.

The India-UAE startup bridge is a one-stop platform where information is expected to be easily accessible to entrepreneurs and stakeholders from both countries. And Tamil Nadu with its strong ecosystem for start-ups and entrepreneurship hopes to benefit immensely.

Around $ 253 million worth of readymade garments were exported by Tamil Nadu to the UAE and Australia from April 2022 to November 2022. The UAE alone accounted for around $ 159 million from this amount. The apparel trade between India, UAE and Australia is predicted to double in three years.Australian buyers are showing a keen interest in importing readymade garments from Tamil Nadu. There are several businesses in the UAE that source readymade garments from India and export them to Gulf Cooperation Council countries.

Against this backdrop, duty-free access to the UAE will probably boost apparel exports from Tamil Nadu. So Tamil Nadu expects to benefit from the two free trade agreements.