The Tiruchi Preventive Customs Commissionerate and the Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC) have developed and launched “Thunaivan”, a portal to facilitate trade for garment exporters in Tiruppur.
Mohan Kumar Singh, member of the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs, launched the portal in Tiruppur on Thursday.
A press release said the portal is tailored specifically for Tirupur to digitally empower exporters and improve ease of doing business. It is an user-friendly interface fostering real-time interaction between Customs and exporters with fast-tracked grievance redressal and issue resolution mechanisms. It promotes transparency and accessibility and enhances public-private partnership for trace facilitation.
According to SK Vimalanathan, Chief Commissioner of Customs, Tiruchi, the Customs officials had collected grievances of exporters during an earlier visit to Tiruppur and wanted to create an interface so that the right officers can see the grievances and forward it to the officials concerned for resolution and monitor the resolution. There may be some grievances that are repetitive too and exporters can be guided to overcome such challenges. The AEPC delivered the portal based on the inputs given by the Customs Department. It may require changes as more exporters use it and it will be taken up, he said.
Mr. Singh said there are online grievance redressal mechanisms in the Customs. The data captured in the Thunaivan portal and its analysis will support policy formation.
Vice-chairman of the AEPC A. Sakthivel said Tiruppur has crossed ₹45,000 crore of annual garment exports. With Free Trade Agreement with the UK and a bilateral agreement on the cards with the U.S., there are several opportunities for the garment exporters in Tiruppur. The exporters need to build capacities and skill workers.
K.M. Ravichandran, Principal Commissioner of Customs (Preventive), Tiruchi, and K.M. Subramaniam, president, Tiruppur Exporters’ Association, were also present at the launch event.
Published on: 12 June 2025
Source: the Hindu
