TEA to set up warehouses overseas

The Tiruppur Exporters' Association (TEA) has entered into an agreement with St John Freight Systems (SJFS) to set up warehouses in foreign countries in order to make good use of the business opportunities in the post-quota regime and to keep up the delivery schedule of knitwear products.

TEA, in association with SJFS, will set up its first warehouse facility in Antwerp, Belgium, the beach-head of its overseas presence. Although the memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed in the end of 2003, the project has gained momentum now after a period of two years.

Commenting on the delay in implementation, G Karthikeyan, secretary of TEA, said, "The association was eyeing the Rotterdam port and since it was very expensive, we could not carry out the project then. Since we found the Antwerp port cost- effective, we have set up our warehouse there on a trial basis. Soon, we will be setting up such warehouses in other parts of Europe and in the United States."

Speaking to Business Standard, A Sakthivel, president, TEA,said, "Knitwear manufacturers could stock their garment items in the warehouse and could deliver them to the chain of stores in Europe."

The warehouse facility,besides reducing the transshipment time, would benefit the exporters in two ways- to sell the garments and to book orders from the chain of stores in Europe, he added.

At present, members of TEA can make use of this warehouse facility free of cost and the non members will be charged a nominal rate.

The ultimate aim is to promote Tiruppur as an international knitwear hub, Sakthivel said.