The Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC) has sought enhancement of the Interest Subvention scheme from 2.75 % to 5 % with coverage extended to all exporters and without the annual cap.“With expanded market access through Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) and continued policy support, we are confident that the apparel sector will make a significant contribution towards achieving the $ 1 trillion export target in 2026-2027,” said A. Sakthivel, chairman of the Council, at the Board of Trade (BoT) meeting held in New Delhi on July 3.The government should support the industry by providing relief under the EPCG scheme by relaxing average export obligation requirements for exporters impacted by market disruptions, particularly those dependent on the U.S. market.It should continue the RoSCTL scheme for three more years, with extension of benefits to exporters operating under Advance Authorisation, EOU and SEZ schemes, create a dedicated Green Transformation Fund offering long-term soft loans for sustainability-related investments and ESG compliance, introduce a special scheme for the apparel sector to simplify duty-free import of fabrics, and make it mandatory to get Registration-cum-Membership Certificate (RCMC) for availing of export promotion schemes, he said.Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal said India has concluded or operationalised FTAs with 38 countries, bringing nearly 65 % of the developed world under India’s FTA network and significantly expanding market access for Indian exporters. All stakeholders should work towards achieving higher export growth. Published - July 03, 2026 08:50 pm IST