In a significant push to boost overseas trade from the region, the Federation of Import Export Organisations (FIEO) joined hands with the Export Import Federation of Trichy (EIFT) to conduct a major capacity-building initiative. The one-day program aimed at empowering 118 entry-level exporters from across Tamil Nadu with crucial knowledge for global market expansion.
Training Focus on Market Access and Government Schemes
The intensive workshop sensitised participants on two core areas: effective market identification and leveraging various export promotion schemes offered by the government. The focus was squarely on providing practical tools to nascent exporters to navigate international trade complexities. S Selvanayagi, the Joint Director of FIEO's southern region, underscored the critical need for such continuous learning initiatives. She emphasized that these programs are vital, especially for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), to build competence and confidently access global markets.
Trichy's Export Profile and the Logistics Hurdle
Highlighting the region's growing trade footprint, data from the Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics (DGCIS) was cited. The total export value from Trichy district for the 2024-25 period stood at $142 million. The key export commodities driving this figure include rice, a variety of spices, fresh fruits and vegetables, floricultural products, and engineered goods.
However, a major bottleneck emerged as the central concern during the event. Participating exporters unanimously raised the pressing issue of logistics, specifically the lack of dedicated cargo flight operations from Trichy International Airport. They argued that this infrastructure gap forces them to rely on airports in Kochi and Chennai, escalating costs and reducing the competitiveness of their perishable and time-sensitive agro-exports.
Industry Leaders Call for Strategic Air Connectivity
Echoing the exporters' demand, N Kanagasabapathy, President of the Export Import Federation, Trichy, highlighted the immense untapped potential of the region. He called for tighter coordination between trade bodies and government agencies to create a more supportive ecosystem for exporters. Kanagasabapathy specifically stressed the urgent need to introduce dedicated cargo flights connecting Trichy directly to key destinations in the Gulf countries, Singapore, and Malaysia.
Industry experts present agreed that such air connectivity would be a game-changer. It would drastically reduce logistics costs, improve turnaround time, and ultimately increase export volumes from the central Tamil Nadu region, allowing local businesses to compete more effectively on the world stage.
