Bhubaneswar: Global apparel powerhouse Epic Group, headquartered in Hong Kong, inaugurated its inaugural production facility in India on Wednesday at Kalibeti Industrial Estate in Odisha’s Khurda district.
The Trimetro manufacturing site, established with an investment of approximately US$100 million, began operations in an impressive 15 months from the laying of its foundation stone, as reported by Business Standard.
Marketed as India’s pioneering fully net-zero carbon and net-zero water apparel production site, the facility is projected to create about 10,000 jobs over time, with roughly 80 per cent allocated to female workers.
Covering 40 acres, this cutting-edge campus stands as one of India’s premier advanced apparel manufacturing centres, merging high-volume export production with eco-resilient infrastructure. Featuring 32 production lines in two buildings, it represents Epic’s biggest single facility in the nation.
Epic Group chairman Ranjan Mahtani stated that the Odisha plant is poised to emerge as a key draw. “Food, shelter and clothing define human life. We are here to create jobs for the people of Odisha, with a strong focus on women-led employment generation. We will train local workers and equip them with world-class skills to compete globally,” Mahtani said.
He described the initiative as a standard for ethical industrialization, noting the Odisha site exemplifies sustainable manufacturing growth. “It is more than a factory; it is a blueprint for the future of global manufacturing. This is just a humble beginning. We have a lot more in the pipeline,” he added.
The unit incorporates onsite and offsite solar power, sustainable biomass, battery storage, and high-efficiency equipment to reduce carbon output. Epic is also developing another facility via a joint venture with Creative Group in Umargam, Gujarat.
Anu Arora, director at Epic Group, noted that output has started at Trimetro’s initial complex with 16 lines, and the second is about to launch. “This is the most advanced apparel manufacturing unit in the country. From fabric cutting to finished products, branding and packaging, everything is being carried out under one roof. Most of the garments produced here will be exported,” she said.
Inaugurated by Minister for Industries, Skill Development and Technical Education Sampad Chandra Swain, the ceremony was attended by the firm’s founders, top leaders, officials, and sector figures.
Swain remarked that this marked the first significant industrial venture where the new administration laid the foundation stone, achieving completion and launch in record time.
“This apparel unit is a powerful example of women-led development. When industries empower women, they contribute not only to economic growth but also to stronger families, more resilient communities and a more inclusive society,” he said.
Starting as a textile trading firm decades back, Epic Group has transformed into a leading worldwide manufacturer operating over 400 production lines in 17 sites across Asia, Africa, the UAE, UK, Jordan, and the US, with more than 40,000 employees globally.
The Odisha venture gained financial backing from the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the World Bank Group’s private arm. In 2024, IFC provided Epic with a US$100 million debt package, including a sustainability-linked loan and a green loan with such elements, supporting the Trimetro site and wider regional growth, encompassing Bangladesh operations.
Strongly established in US, European, and Japanese markets, Epic’s model covers fabric procurement, product creation, design, production, quality checks, and logistics, delivering end-to-end solutions for major apparel chains and labels like Walmart, Uniqlo, Levi Strauss & Co., Tesco, C&A, and Sainsbury’s.
