**Summary:**
Bharat Mart is a planned marketplace initiative by the Government of India, designed to provide Indian traders, exporters, and manufacturers with access to markets in the Middle East, Africa, and Eurasia. The project, situated within the Jebel Ali Free Zone (JAFZA) in Dubai, is strategically located near Jebel Ali Port and Al Maktoum Airport to facilitate multimodal access to regional and global destinations. Construction is expected to begin shortly.
Bharat Mart will focus on priority sectors identified by the Government of India, including textiles and garments, agriculture and food processing, engineering goods, pharmaceuticals and healthcare, handicrafts, automotive components, and machinery. These sectors align with the markets of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and Africa, leveraging benefits from the India-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).
The Export Promotion Councils, Federation of Indian Export Organisations, major Indian industry bodies, and DP World are collaborating to engage with Indian exporters and manufacturers. The aim is to attract related businesses and create scalable industry clusters within Bharat Mart.
Bharat Mart will offer showroom and warehousing space to accommodate various business sizes and operational models, including display-driven retail spaces, backend fulfillment centers, and light manufacturing zones.
Key Entities Referenced
Bharat Mart: A marketplace project designed to provide Indian traders, exporters, and manufacturers access to markets in the Middle East, Africa, and Eurasia.
UAE: United Arab Emirates, a country in the Middle East, specifically referenced in relation to Bharat Mart's market access and IndiaUAE CEPA benefits.
Middle East: A region targeted by Bharat Mart to provide access to markets for Indian traders, exporters, and manufacturers.
Africa: A region targeted by Bharat Mart to provide access to markets for Indian traders, exporters, and manufacturers.
Eurasia: A region targeted by Bharat Mart to provide access to markets for Indian traders, exporters, and manufacturers.
Jebel Ali Free Zone JAFZA: The location where Bharat Mart is situated, adjacent to Jebel Ali Port and Al Maktoum Airport.
IndiaUAE CEPA: India-United Arab Emirates Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, which provides benefits and trade demand analyses for Bharat Mart.
DP World: An organisation collaborating with Export Promotion Councils, Federation of Indian Export organisations and major Indian industry bodies to attract businesses to Bharat Mart.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2531
ANSWERED ON 05/08/2025
BHARAT MART
2531. SHRI TRIVENDRA SINGH RAWAT:
SHRI KHAGEN MURMU:
Will the Minister of COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (वाणिज्य एवं उद्योग मंत्री) be pleased to
state:
(a) the expected completion year of Bharat Mart and the timeline for full
operationalisation;
(b) whether the marketplace aims to cater to regions beyond the UAE, such as the
Middle East, Africa, and Eurasia;
(c) if so, the strategies are being adopted to access these markets; and
(d) the measures which are being planned or implemented to ensure Indian traders,
exporters, and manufacturers are able to fully utilise the free-zone and mainland
benefits provided by Bharatmart?
ANSWER
वाणिज्य एवं उद्योग मंत्रालय में राज्यमंत्री (श्री णिणिन प्रसाद)
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
(SHRI JITIN PRASADA)
(a) to (d): Bharat Mart is envisaged as a marketplace that provides Indian traders, exporters,
and manufacturers access to markets in the Middle East, Africa and Eurasia, including for
the priority sectors identified by Government of India such as textiles, engineering goods,
pharma, agriculture and processed foods, etc. The construction of Bharat Mart is expected
to begin shortly. Bharat Mart is situated within Jebel Ali Free Zone (JAFZA), adjacent to
Jebel Ali Port and Al Maktoum Airport, offering multimodal access to regional and global
destinations. The strategic location of Bharat Mart will facilitate cost-efficient access to
GCC, Africa and Eurasia. Bharat Mart is aligned with high-potential export sectors
prioritized based on India-UAE CEPA benefits and trade demand analyses. These include
1textiles and garments, agriculture and food processing, engineering goods,
pharmaceuticals and healthcare, handicrafts as well as automotive components and
machinery- sectors that align strongly with the markets of GCC and Africa. The Export
Promotion Councils, Federation of Indian Export organisations and major Indian industry
bodies in collaboration with DP World are engaging with Indian exporters and
manufacturers, with the goal of attracting related businesses and to create scalable industry
clusters within the Bharat Mart. Bharat Mart will offer showroom and warehousing space,
designed to accommodate various business sizes and operational models from display-
driven retail spaces to back-end fulfillment and light manufacturing zones.
*****
2