TIRUPUR: Exporters on Wednesday welcomed the Tamil Nadu budget 2026–27, saying it lays a strong foundation for industrial growth, export promotion and employment generation, while urging the state to back the sector with a worker housing scheme and a dedicated knitwear board.Dr A Sakthivel, chairman of the Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC), appreciated the budget’s focus on introducing a new industrial policy. He hailed the allocation of Rs 10 crore for a Tirupur Textile Technology Centre, saying it would aid technology upgradation, innovation, skill development and sustainable garment manufacturing and further strengthen Tirupur’s position as India’s leading knitwear export hub.At the same time, he urged the govt to address the sector’s rising manpower needs in the wake of India’s Free Trade Agreements with 38 countries.Reiterating AEPC’s request to the chief minister, he sought a comprehensive worker housing and hostel scheme with a 50% capital subsidy and the remaining 50% as loan assistance carrying a 5% interest subsidy to help industries create affordable accommodation for migrant workers.Exporters welcomed the budget’s emphasis on artificial intelligence, innovation, youth empowerment and infrastructure development.On behalf of the Tirupur Exporters’ Association (TEA), Kumar Duraiswamy sought conversion of the Rs 200 crore interest-free loan given earlier for Zero Liquid Discharge systems into a full subsidy, citing Tirupur dyeing units’ pioneering implementation of ZLD and environmental compliance.Tamil Nadu’s textile industry, accounting for nearly one-third of India’s textile business and among the state’s biggest employers, has welcomed key budget allocations and new schemes aimed at boosting competitiveness.The budget earmarks Rs 1,678 crore exclusively for handlooms and textiles, and Rs 2,022 crore for labour welfare and skill development, which industry said would also support the textile value chain.Southern India Mills Association (SIMA) chairman Durai Palanisamy welcomed the Technical Textiles Transformation Scheme, the Tamil Nadu Institute of Designs and a loom modernisation scheme.SIMA also backed funding for new SIPCOT industrial parks, the women entrepreneurs’ empowerment scheme, a new industrial policy and TN Single Window 3.0 for faster approvals, alongside proposed initiatives in emerging technologies and AI.OSMA (Open and Spinning Mills Association) president G Arulmozhi hailed infrastructure spends including Rs 3,200 crore for SIPCOT parks, Rs 1,543 crore for 178 substations, Rs 4,000 crore for the Coimbatore–Ariyalur corridor and Rs 6,884 crore for the Green Energy Corridor but stated that reducing fixed charges for LT/CT/HT power connections had not been addressed.
