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Japan's KANKO Eyes Strategic Manufacturing Partnership with India's Tiruppur Cluster

Japan's prestigious school uniform manufacturer KANKO is exploring a strategic, long-term manufacturing partnership within India's Tiruppur export cluster. The Tiruppur Exporters' Association highlighted the cluster's robust turnover, diversified product base, and the advantage of the existing India-Japan Free Trade Agreement. Efficient logistics, including proximity to major ports and a one-week shipment time to Singapore, were emphasized as key strengths. The partnership would begin with trial orders to assess quality and delivery before scaling up operations.

Key Points: Japan's KANKO Seeks Manufacturing Tie-Up in India's Tiruppur

  • 170-year-old Japanese firm eyes Tiruppur
  • Cluster's export turnover ~Rs 45,000 crore
  • India-Japan FTA provides favorable framework
  • Efficient logistics with week-long reach to Singapore
  • Visit to local manufacturers for capability assessment
2 min read

Japan's KANKO eyes strategic manufacturing partnership with Tiruppur cluster

Japan's leading uniform maker KANKO explores a long-term manufacturing partnership in India's Tiruppur cluster, leveraging the India-Japan FTA.

"Tiruppur is one of the best sourcing destinations in India, known for its hardworking and reliable workforce. - KM Subramanian"

Tiruppur, February 14

KANKO, Japan's most reputed school uniform manufacturer with a distinguished 170-year legacy, is exploring the possibility of building a reliable and long-term manufacturing partnership in Tiruppur as part of its global supply chain expansion strategy.

During the interaction, KM Subramanian, President, Tiruppur Exporters' Association (TEA) mentioned that Tiruppur is one of the best sourcing destinations in India, known for its hardworking and reliable workforce. He highlighted that Tiruppur is predominantly cotton-driven and has now diversified significantly into MMF (Man-Made Fibre) products.

He further shared that Tiruppur's current export turnover stands at approximately Rs 45,000 crore, with an additional domestic turnover of around Rs 30,000 crore, demonstrating the cluster's strong manufacturing base and global competitiveness.

Subramanian also noted that India already has a comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Japan, which provides a favourable framework for expanding trade. He expressed that Tiruppur Industries has keen interest in strengthening its footprint in the Japanese market and assured KANKO of TEA's full support in identifying the right manufacturing partners and fostering a strong and sustainable business relationship between Japan and Tiruppur.

In terms of logistics, he emphasised that Tiruppur has efficient connectivity, with shipments able to reach Singapore within a week. The cluster also benefits from proximity to major ports such as Tuticorin (Thoothukudi) and Chennai, ensuring smooth export operations. He suggested that KANKO may initially begin with smaller order quantities to evaluate the service standards, quality and delivery performance of Tiruppur manufacturers and gradually scale up based on mutual confidence and satisfaction.

Earlier, the KANKO delegation also visited KM Knitwear Pvt Ltd and Techno Sportswear Pvt Ltd to understand the manufacturing capabilities, infrastructure, quality systems, and compliance standards of leading units in Tiruppur.

The meeting was attended by KM Subramanian, President, TEA; N Thirukkumaran, General Secretary, TEA; and Sunil Kumar Jhunjhunwala, Executive Committee Member, TEA.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Very promising. The FTA with Japan is a key advantage that we should leverage more. Tiruppur's shift into MMF is smart - it's the future of textiles. Hope the partnership focuses on sustainable manufacturing too.
R
Rahul R
Rs 45,000 crore export turnover is no small feat! Tiruppur truly is the knitwear capital. This partnership can help our manufacturers learn Japanese precision and quality management systems. Win-win.
A
Anjali F
While this is positive, I hope it doesn't become another case where foreign companies come for cheap labour without investing in worker welfare. The article mentions 'hardworking workforce' – hope that translates to fair wages and good working conditions for them.
K
Karthik V
Smart move by TEA to suggest starting with small orders. Build trust first. Japanese companies are known for their high standards. If Tiruppur can consistently meet them, this could open the floodgates for more business from Japan and East Asia.
M
Michael C
Interesting read. The logistics detail is crucial – reaching Singapore in a week is competitive. Diversifying from just cotton to MMF makes the cluster more resilient and attractive for global partners like KANKO.

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