Global retail chain major J C Penney is planning to enhance its apparel sourcing from India to about $600 million in the next 2-3 years, a top company official said.

"Outsourcing in apparel, including home textiles, is expected to increase three times from the current level of $200 million," Rod Brokins, vice president and director of strategic sourcing, J C Penney, told reporters in New Delhi on Sunday.

He said the retailer was constrained in sourcing from India due to the existing quota regime and after the phase-out, would prefer India to China, as Beijing had joined World Trade Organisation later and still had to face safeguard provisions.

In line with the company's plans, a team of 50 sourcing officials were in India, visiting main textile centres in Ahmedabad, Ludhiana and Tirupur, Brokins said.