Tamil Nadu’s Tirupur cluster is pressing for the right infrastructure such as a world-class design studio, a research and development center and an incubation centre for technical textiles. It feels these infrastructure facilities will facilitate rapid growth of not only the existing textile business but also enable its foray into the niche segments creating quantum growth opportunities to the industry.

The cluster is interested in having a focused and dedicated agency for the knitwear sector, similar to the silk or the coir board, which could serve as a catalyst for rapid growth of this segment.

Tirupur is the knitwear capital of the country with a 46 per cent market share in knitwear exports. It aims for a turnover of Rs lakh crore by 2020 from the present Rs 35,000 crores. Exporters say housing and hostel facilities will attract and retain skilled laborers. They are also looking forward to the implementation of the Factories (Amendment) Bill 2016, which would benefit the garment sector and will be helpful to fulfill buyers’ compliances.

The cluster argues since apparels are essentials, they should attract a lower slab rate under GST considering that the cumulative tax on textile products, including the non-availability of input tax credit on the inter-state purchase of cotton and other raw materials, presently comes to only around 7 to 8 per cent.