"Padma Shri Dr. A Sakthivel has taken over as the new chairman of the Apparel Export Promotion Council from January 6, 2020. He was elected to the Board of Directors of Apparel Export Promotion Council in the year 1982 and has served the council for almost four decades. He is also the first person in the history of AEPC, to be sworn-in for the fourth time as Chairman of the AEPC. His diligence has played a vital role in the growth of the Council and gradually led to the improvement of exports at the national level."

Padma Shri Dr. A Sakthivel has taken over as the new chairman of the Apparel Export Promotion Council from January 6, 2020. He was elected to the Board of Directors of Apparel Export Promotion Council in the year 1982 and has served the council for almost four decades. He is also the first person in the history of AEPC, to be sworn-in for the fourth time as Chairman of the AEPC. His diligence has played a vital role in the growth of the Council and gradually led to the improvement of exports at the national level.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. A Sakthivel expressed concern over the stagnating exports and current industry scenario. He assured the members that he will work with full commitment and dedication to bring forth positive growth in apparel exports. He promised that he will put efforts to find new and potential markets for India's garment exports. He further assured that he will convince the senior officials of the Central Government to get the required incentives and benefits thereby reviving growth of the sector and overall exports.

Dr. A Sakthivel along with some exporters had established Tirupur Exporters Association in 1990 widely known as TEA. Dr. A Sakthivel was the first President of TEA and with his dynamism, he held the post continuously for a period of 27 years.

During his tenure as President of TEA, he toiled hard to develop the industry as well as Tirupur. The export turnover of Tirupur industry increased to a whopping Rs 27000 crores in 2016-17 from Rs 270 Crores in 1990.

Government of India recognised his unparalleled service to export sector specifically to apparel sector and knitting industry, creation of infrastructures such as industrial parks, ICDs and his contribution to society with regard to education, drinking water, sanitation, and drainage, etc., by honoring him with one of the country's most prestigious and esteemed Civilian Award Dr. A Sakthivel was also instrumental in so many visionary projects in Tirupur including the formation of Tirupur Export Knitwear Industrial Complex (TEKIC), Inland Container Depot (ICD), Netaji Apparel Park (NAP), International Exhibition Centre (IKF), etc. Similarly his social visionary projects include School for Children (TEA Public School), drinking water for Tirupur people and Industry through NTADCL, Fashion Knitwear Institute partnered with NIFT (NIFT-TEA Institute) etc.,

Incorporated in 1978, AEPC is the official body of apparel exporters in India that provides invaluable assistance to Indian exporters as well as importers/ international buyers who choose India as their preferred sourcing destination for garments. In recent years AEPC has worked tirelessly in integrating the entire industry - starting at the grass the root level of training the workforce and supplying a steady stream of manpower to the industry; identifying the best countries to source machinery and other infrastructure.