Tiruppur’s garment industry could achieve annual exports of ₹1 lakh crore ($10.5 billion) by 2030, with the PM MITRA Mega Textile Park at Virudhunagar (Tamil Nadu) expected to play a key role in expanding manufacturing capacity, attracting investment and strengthening the textile value chain, industry leaders said at a stakeholder consultation, organised by the Tiruppur Exporters’ Association (TEA).

The optimism comes despite recent export challenges. Tiruppur’s garment exports stood at ₹42,544.40 crore ($4.5 billion) in 2025-26, down 4.91 per cent from ₹44,747 crore ($4.7 billion) in 2024-25, affected by tariff-related issues in the United States and disruptions to global trade and shipping arising from the West Asia crisis.

The PM MITRA Textile Park is being developed at Virudhunagar with an investment outlay of around ₹10,840 crore ($1,144.59 million). The State Industries Promotion Corporation of Tamil Nadu (SIPCOT) Limited officials informed stakeholders that the first phase of land allotment has been completed, with land allotted to 17 industrial projects, while the second phase is currently underway.

Spread across 1,052 acres, the integrated textile park is designed to cover the entire textile value chain, from spinning and processing to garment manufacturing. Planned facilities include a common effluent treatment plant (ETP), sewage treatment plant, testing laboratory, research centre and skill development centre.

Addressing the meeting, AR Chandramohan, chief general manager, SIPCOT, said infrastructure works worth ₹460 crore ($48.57 million), including roads, rainwater harvesting systems and street lighting, are under implementation. The park is also being developed as a net-zero industrial hub supported by a proposed 20 MW solar power plant.

Speaking at the consultation, TEA president KM Subramanian said the PM MITRA Park would support the industry’s long-term growth ambitions by creating additional manufacturing capacity and encouraging greater focus on technical textiles. He noted that Tiruppur has the potential to achieve ₹1 lakh crore in annual exports by 2030 with continued support from the Central and state governments.

TEA representatives highlighted that Tiruppur entrepreneurs are keen to invest in the PM MITRA Park, provided competitively priced land, quality infrastructure and uninterrupted power supply are ensured. Industry stakeholders also called for dedicated service centres for stitching, knitting and processing machinery, along with worker accommodation and enhanced banking support.

R Gopalakrishnan, treasurer of TEA, said achieving Tiruppur’s ₹1 lakh crore export target by 2030 would require substantial workforce expansion and investments in world-class industrial infrastructure. Industry leaders believe that the integrated textile ecosystem, combined with government incentives available for industries investing in Virudhunagar district, could strengthen Tamil Nadu’s position in global textile and apparel trade while helping Tiruppur regain a higher growth trajectory in the coming years.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (KUL)