KNITWEAR exports from Tirupur are surging and if the performance in the first quarter of the current year is maintained, it may reach a new landmark by recording for the first time $1 billion in export earnings from export of non-quota items and to non-quota countries by the end of this year.

Knitwear exports from Tirupur, according to the figures registered with the Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC), Tirupur, reached in value terms Rs 4,000 crore during 2003. This excluded exports to non-quota countries and non-quota items whose value was around Rs 700 crore.

According to Mr A. Sakthivel, Chairman, AEPC, during January-March 2004 garment exports from Tirupur was to the tune of Rs 1,317 crore, an increase of 14 per cent compared to the performance in the same period last year. This figure did not include exports of non-quota items and to non-quota countries. If the same buoyancy in exports continued during the rest of the current year, knitwear exports from Tirupur might touch the $1-billion mark by the end of 2004. He said with a view to equip the Indian readymade garment industry to face international competition once the quota regime ends, the AEPC has decided to open six more apparel training and design centres during June/July this year. These would come up in Noida, Gurgaon, Surat, Mumbai, Ludhiana, apart from Tirupur.

Special courses like diploma in knitwear manufacturing and management, production supervision (knitting), wet processing and stitching, patent making, CAD/CAM operators course, etc were being planned so that the industry has trained manpower to meet competition. Mr Sakthivel said as part of the efforts to promote India as a dependable source for garments and to promote the country's brand image, the AEPC will be organising a `Made in India' buyer-seller meet in Dallas and New York during June 3 -10 this year. Nearly 75 participants were expected to display their products and nearly 20 knitwear garment exporters from Tirupur had already confirmed their participation.

It was learnt that that the European Union has made a proposal to increase the quota limit if India reduced the tariff substantially - from around 25-30 per cent level to 20 per cent. The AEPC has requested the Government to respond positively to the proposal since acceptance of it would result in exports to the EU increasing by around Rs 4,000 crore during the current year. He said the India Knit Fair Association, in collaboration with the AEPC and Tirupur Exporters' Association, was organising the 18th India Knit Fair (Spring/Summer Collection 2005) at Tirupur between May 12 and 14.