Piyush Promises Five Good Growth in Exports in Next Five Years Through FTAs

Ø Piyush Goyal Calls for Leveraging FTAs to Achieve USD 2 Trillion Export Target by 2030 under Viksit Bharat Vision

Ø DGFT Presents Export Reform Framework; Industry Flags MSME Challenges, Govt Assures Support and Ease of Doing Business Measures

Ø Export Promotion Mission Progress Reviewed; Shri Piyush Goyal Urges EPCs to Expand Exporter Base and Explore New Markets

· Piyush Goyal chaired a meeting with Export Promotion Councils (EPCs) and industry associations following the India–New Zealand FTA signing to strengthen India’s export ecosystem amid evolving global trade dynamics.

· The Minister highlighted India’s record USD 860.09 billion merchandise and services exports in FY 2025–26, calling it a foundation for achieving the USD 2 trillion export target by 2030 under the Viksit Bharat vision.

· He urged exporters to leverage India’s growing network of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) to expand market access, boost exports and generate employment.

· Directorate General of Foreign Trade presented a comprehensive export reform framework, covering:

o KPI-based performance metrics for EPCs

o E-commerce export promotion

o Districts as Export Hubs

o Proposed Digital Trade Academy

o Export Promotion Mission progress

o Expedited Export Obligation Discharge Certificates (EODC)

· The Minister called on EPCs to help expand the exporter base, especially by integrating more MSMEs into global trade and supporting market diversification.

· Industry participants raised concerns over compliance costs, testing requirements and barriers faced by MSMEs, with the government assuring continued support and ease-of-doing-business measures.

· Key export sectors cited as sustaining momentum included engineering goods, electronics, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, gems and jewellery, and agri-products.

· Major industry bodies, including Federation of Indian Export Organisations, Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India and National Association of Software and Service Companies, participated in the review.

· The meeting reviewed progress under the Export Promotion Mission, with emphasis on supporting exporters in entering new markets and deepening presence in existing ones.

· The Minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment to reforms, targeted support and industry collaboration to position India as a trusted global supply partner.

[ABS News Service/29.04.2026]

Union Minister for Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal, chaired a meeting with Export Promotion Councils (EPCs) and industry associations at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, on 27th April 2026, to deliberate on strategies for strengthening India’s export ecosystem in the context of evolving global trade dynamics. The meeting was held in continuation of the India–New Zealand FTA signing ceremony in Bharat Mandapam and was attended by representatives of 30 EPCs and apex industry chambers, along with senior officials from the Department of Commerce and the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT).

Addressing the gathering, Shri Goyal highlighted that India’s total merchandise and services exports reached a record USD 860.09 billion in FY 2025–26, registering a 4.22% year-on-year growth. He noted that sectors such as engineering goods, electronics, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, gems & jewellery and agri-based products have sustained export momentum despite global disruptions.

The Minister emphasised that this milestone should serve as a springboard for achieving USD 2 trillion in exports by 2030 under the Viksit Bharat vision. He urged exporters and industry bodies to fully leverage India’s Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with developed economies to expand market access, boost exports and create employment opportunities, noting that timely utilisation of these agreements is critical.

During the meeting, the Director General of Foreign Trade made a detailed presentation on export performance, ongoing reforms and a structured framework for achieving measurable export outcomes. The presentation outlined a comprehensive export reform framework covering sectoral export performance, a KPI-based framework for EPCs, promotion of e-commerce exports, Districts as Export Hubs, the proposed Digital Trade Academy, the Government’s response to the West Asia crisis, progress under the Export Promotion Mission, and the ongoing special drive for expediting the Export Obligation Discharge Certificate (EODC). The DGFT stressed that EPCs must act as equal partners with the Government in driving market diversification, bringing more MSMEs into the export ecosystem, greater use of technology, and ensuring that policy measures translate into measurable outcomes at the national level.

Industry representatives raised issues relating to compliance costs, testing requirements, and challenges faced by MSMEs in entering export markets. The Minister assured continued Government support, including facilitation under ongoing schemes and targeted interventions to reduce entry barriers and enhance ease of doing business.

Key bodies participating in the meeting included the Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO); Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC); Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC); Council for Leather Exports (CLE); Engineering Export Promotion Council of India (EEPC India); Basic Chemicals, Cosmetics & Dyes Export Promotion Council (CHEMEXCIL); Cotton Textiles Export Promotion Council (TEXPROCIL); Manmade and Technical Textiles Export Promotion Council (MATEXIL); other major textile EPCs; Carpet Export Promotion Council (CEPC); Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH); agriculture & allied bodies including the Seafood Exporters Association of India (SEAI); Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA); Shellac & Forest Products Export Promotion Council (SHEFEXCIL); Indian Oilseeds and Produce Export Promotion Council (IOPEPC); Pharmaceuticals Export Promotion Council of India (PHARMEXCIL); National Association of Software and Service Companies (NASSCOM); Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI); Associated Chambers of Commerce & Industry of India (ASSOCHAM); PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI); and several other leading sectoral associations.

Discussions also highlighted progress under the Export Promotion Mission (EPM), the Government’s flagship scheme to support exporters. The Minister encouraged EPCs to take steps to increase the number of active exporters. He also emphasised Government support to exporters for entering new markets and increasing their presence in existing markets to accelerate export growth.

The Minister reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to strengthening a facilitative trade ecosystem through ongoing reforms, targeted support measures and close collaboration with industry, to accelerate export growth and position India as a trusted global supply partner.