Nagapattinam, one of Tamil Nadu’s important districts, is poised for a significant industrial transformation with the launch of a Rs. 30 crore (US $ 3.39 million) garment manufacturing facility at Sirangudi-Puliyur village in Kilvelur taluk. The foundation stone for the project was laid on Tuesday, marking the beginning of what could become a major source of rural employment, generating direct jobs for up to 2,500 people, primarily women.
The 1.5-lakh sq.ft. facility is being established through a collaboration between the Nagapattinam district administration, Zoho Corporation, and Cibi Exports, led by Tirupur-based industrialist Cibi Anand, a long-time associate of Zoho founder Sridhar Vembu. The initiative forms part of a broader mission to promote sustainable, small and medium-scale industries across Tamil Nadu’s delta districts.
Cibi Anand, the project’s driving force, said the initiative aimed to turn Nagapattinam into a hub for inclusive manufacturing, enabling rural youth—especially women—to find dignified, local employment without the need to migrate. He explained that the plant would focus on Cutting, Making and Trimming (CMT) operations for knitwear exports, with fabrics sourced from Tirupur and finishing processes carried out locally to create an environmentally responsible “green industry.”
Anand added that the construction is expected to be completed within five to six months, and plans are in place to establish around 10 similar garment units across the delta region over the next few years. Each unit is projected to employ roughly 2,000 workers, with women expected to constitute about 80% of the workforce.
The initiative aims to strengthen local workforce participation in Tamil Nadu’s textile sector and reduce dependence on migrant labour from other States, which currently forms a large part of the workforce in major industrial hubs such as Tirupur.
Sridhar Vembu described the project as a pilot for broader rural industrialisation, suggesting that its success could pave the way for new ventures in garment manufacturing, agri-processing, and allied sectors.
The project’s planning and coordination were overseen by Nagapattinam District Collector P. Akash, under whose supervision the initiative has taken shape.
