Parliament Question: Export Promotion Initiatives

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT FOR PROMOTION OF INDUSTRY AND INTERNAL TRADE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 229. TO BE ANSWERED ON TUESDAY, THE 04TH AUGUST, 2026. EXPORT PROMOTION INITIATIVES *229. SHRI DAMODAR AGRAWAL: DR. NISHIKANT DUBEY: Will the Minister of COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY be pleased to state: वाणिज्य एवं उद्योग मंत्री (a) the details of steps taken by the Government to promote ease of doing business, including reforms related to labour, land, taxation and insolvency and the impact of the said reforms on India's ranking in global indices; (b) the current status of export growth and the details of the measures adopted to achieve the export target of USD 2 trillion; (c) the details of the new markets and products identified by the Government for export promotion, particularly from Andhra Pradesh; (d) the details of the support provided by the Government to Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and exporters to assist them in facing challenges related to international trade; and (e) whether any sector-specific or district-level export promotion initiatives have been taken including in Andhra Pradesh and if so, the details thereof? ANSWER वाणिज्य एव ं उद्योग मत्रं ी (श्री पीयषू गोयल) THE MINISTER OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL) (a) to (e): A statement is laid on the table of the House. *********STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY OF PARTS (a) to (e) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 229 FOR ANSWER ON 04.08.2026. (a): Government has taken multiple steps to promote ease of doing business in country such as Simplification of taxation laws and rationalization of labor regulations through the newly implemented Labor Codes, PLI schemes, passing of Commercial Courts Act and establishment of dedicated Commercial Courts in Delhi and Mumbai for faster dispute resolution. Government has constituted Task Force on Deregulation and Compliance Burden following deliberations at the 4th Chief Secretaries’ Conference, to assist States and Union Territories in simplifying regulatory frameworks. The Task Force, supported by Cabinet Secretariat, NITI Aayog and DPIIT, engages directly with States and Union Territories through structured field interactions focusing on four key reform areas: Land Use, Building and Construction, Labour Reforms, and Utilities/Permissions. HLC-NFRR: The High-Level Committee on Non-Financial Regulatory Reforms (HLC-NFRR) has been constituted by Cabinet Secretariat to review Union Government regulations, certifications, licences, and permissions in the non- financial sector, with a view to creating a modern, flexible, and trust-based regulatory framework. GST reforms 2025 have contributed to improving the Ease of Doing Business by simplifying the indirect tax structure, rationalising tax rates and reducing compliance and transaction costs for businesses. The GST reforms marked a movement towards a simplified two-rate structure and correction of inverted duty structures in sectors such as textiles and fertilisers, have helped reduce tax incidence, working capital pressures and the cost of business operations. The four Labour Codes, which consolidate 29 Central labour laws, have further contributed to Ease of Doing Business by simplifying and rationalising labour compliance and reducing regulatory complexity. The Codes provide for a framework of single registration, single licence and single return, along with electronic maintenance of records, registers and returns. The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) under Government of India has undertaken a number of initiatives to improve the Ease of Doing Business (EoDB) across the country, by creating a transparent, predictable and investor-friendly regulatory ecosystem. These initiatives are aimed at simplifying regulatory procedures, reducing compliance burden, promoting digital governance and strengthening the overall business environment, thereby facilitating industrial growth, investment and exports. The Business Reforms Action Plan (BRAP), launched in 2014, promotes competitive federalism by encouraging States and Union Territories to implement business-friendly regulatory reforms across areas such as single window systems, land administration, labour regulation, permits, inspections, and transparency. To strengthen investor facilitation, DPIIT has assessed state single window systems and issued a guidebook prescribing essential features,which form part of BRAP 2026. Further, the District BRAP framework extends ease of doing business to the district level, focusing on digitised approvals, time-bound inspections, transparent land administration, strengthened District Industries Centres, investment-ready industrial parks, and entrepreneurship promotion, thereby facilitating grassroots investment and efficient public service delivery. Further, the Government has undertaken the Reducing Compliance Burden (RCB) initiative with the objective of improving Ease of Doing Business and Ease of Living through simplification, rationalisation, digitisation and decriminalisation of regulatory compliances. Under this initiative, DPIIT established the Regulatory Compliance Portal to facilitate identification of burdensome compliances and enable continuous engagement between Government and industry. Central Ministries, State Governments and their subordinate offices have undertaken an extensive review of Acts, Rules, Regulations, Orders, Notifications and procedures to simplify or eliminate unnecessary compliance requirements. As a result of these efforts, multiple compliances have been reduced across the country, significantly lowering the regulatory burden on businesses and improving transparency, efficiency and predictability in the regulatory framework. The Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2023: The Government of India has undertaken legislative reforms to promote Ease of Doing Business and Ease of Living by rationalizing regulations and reducing criminal penalties. The Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2023, passed by Parliament and assented to on 11th August 2023, decriminalized 183 provisions across 42 Acts administered by 19 Ministries/Departments. In line with reforms to enhance the Ease of Living and Ease of Doing Business, the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2026 has been enacted. The Act amends 784 provisions across 79 Central Acts administered by 23 Ministries. Of these, 717 provisions have been decriminalized to promote Ease of Doing Business, and 67 provisions have been amended to facilitate Ease of Living. To strengthen India’s performance under the B-READY framework, DPIIT has undertaken extensive coordination and reform-oriented efforts, including extensive inter-ministerial consultations, engagement with the World Bank, benchmarking India’s performance against comparable economies, assessment of global good practices, and industry consultations across States/UTs. Also, based on the analysis of the World Bank Enterprise Survey (WBES) results of India and stakeholder feedback, potential reforms have been identified including reforms related to labour, land, taxation and insolvency. India’s B-READY country report, incorporating assessments across all three pillars of the framework, is expected to be released by the World Bank around November 2026. These reforms will impact India’s ranking in Ease of Doing Business Landscape.(b): India’s overall exports (merchandise and services) during FY 2025‑26 stood at 863.05 billion US dollars. In the current financial year’s April–June quarter, exports registered a growth of 11.37% over the corresponding period of the previous year. (Data Source: DGCI&S) The Government has put in place a comprehensive institutional mechanism to monitor export performance across sectors through a coordinated whole-of- Government approach. This framework brings together key stakeholders such as the Department of Commerce, the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), Export Promotion Councils (EPCs), Commodity Boards, concerned line Ministries, State Governments including districts, and Indian Missions abroad. The collaborative approach enables continuous monitoring, identification of sector-specific challenges, and coordinated policy interventions to strengthen export growth and competitiveness. India is adopting a comprehensive trade strategy focused on enhancing export competitiveness, expanding market access, diversifying export destinations and products, facilitating trade, strengthening integration with global value chains, and promoting resilient and sustainable export growth. Trade Agreements: India’s strategy of pursuing Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) is aligned with this changing global environment. As countries and businesses seek reliable and diversified trade partners, FTAs can help India secure preferential access to important markets, reduce tariff barriers, and increase the competitiveness of Indian exports. India’s recent trade agreements with partners such as the UAE, Australia, the United Kingdom, Oman, New Zealand, and the EFTA countries reflect a calibrated strategy of expanding export opportunities while protecting sensitive domestic sectors. These agreements have enhanced market access for Indian exporters by providing preferential treatment across a significant proportion of partner countries’ tariff lines. For instance, the India–UK agreement provides preferential access for nearly 99% of Indian exports, while the India–EU framework covers around 97% of EU tariff lines, accounting for approximately 99.5% of bilateral trade value. Similarly, India’s agreement with New Zealand provides duty-free access for all Indian exports, the India–Oman agreement covers about 98% of Oman’s tariff lines, and the India–EFTA Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA) provide access across nearly 99.6% of tariff lines. Together, these agreements strengthen India’s integration with global markets, improve export competitiveness, and support the diversification of trade partnerships amid changing global supply-chain dynamics. Export Promotion Mission (EPM): The Government has approved the Export Promotion Mission (EPM) with a budgetary outlay of ₹25,060 crore for the period FY 2025–26 to FY 2030–31 to enhance export competitiveness, address key bottlenecks, and enable greater integration of Indian exporters with global value chains across sectors and States. The Mission operates through two primary components: i. Niryat Protsahan: Focusing on trade finance, credit enhancement, quality compliance, and financial support mechanisms; andii. Niryat Disha: Focusing on export logistics, warehousing, market access, e- commerce exports, district-level export promotion, capacity building, and trade facilitation. The Mission specifically aims to strengthen the competitiveness of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in international trade by providing targeted interventions in credit access, logistics infrastructure, and global market linkages. Strategic Partnerships and Credit Support: For the development of a sustainable export ecosystem, the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has established strategic partnerships with key agencies, including the Export Credit Guarantee Corporation (ECGC), Export-Import Bank of India (EXIM Bank), Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI), Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), and India Post. To ensure adequate and affordable credit, the ECGC has enhanced its insurance cover for banks from 70% to 90% under the Whole Turnover-Export Credit Insurance for Banks (WT-ECIB) for loans up to ₹80 crore. Additionally, a Collateral-Free Cover has been introduced for Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) covering working capital limits up to ₹10 crore. Sustainable Export Ecosystem & E-Commerce: Infrastructure gaps, including cold-chain facilities and freight support, are being addressed through scheme convergence. Furthermore, DGFT is collaborating with major e- commerce and logistics platforms, including Amazon, FedEx, Delhivery, and DHL, to conduct capacity-building programs aimed at onboarding exporters onto e-commerce routes. In collaboration with the Department of Posts, nationwide awareness programs are being undertaken regarding the procedures and facilities available under Dak Ghar Niryat Kendras (DNKs), thereby enabling exporters, particularly those in remote and rural areas, to access international markets through e-commerce channels. The Government has launched the Trade Connect e-Platform to provide trade-related information to Indian exporters. It serves as a single-window portal connecting Indian Missions Abroad, Export Promotion Councils, and the Department of Commerce to facilitate market access for new and existing exporters. (c): In order to facilitate grassroots export growth and resolve structural bottlenecks, a two-tier institutional framework has been established comprising State Export Promotion Committees (SEPCs) at the State level and District Export Promotion Committees (DEPCs) at the district level. The core operational mechanism relies on District Export Action Plans (DEAPs), prepared and implemented by DEPCs in collaboration with Central, State, and district stakeholders. These plans identify key products and services with export potential for each district, outline required interventions from production through to export stages, detail specific supply chain bottlenecks, and propose targeted mitigation strategies. As per information received from the Government of Andhra Pradesh, the Andhra Pradesh MSME Development Corporation (APMSMEDC) has conducted four Reverse Buyer-Seller Meets (RBSMs) at Visakhapatnam,Vijayawada, Tirupati, and Kakinada to promote MSME exports and facilitate international market access. International buyers from various established and emerging export markets, including the USA, UAE, Australia, Japan, Canada, Netherlands, Spain, Russia, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, Taiwan, New Zealand, Kenya, Ghana, Egypt, Oman, Mauritius, and Uzbekistan participated in these meets. Direct export linkages have been established through Business-to-Business (B2B) meetings and Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) signed between international buyers and State-based MSMEs. Key district-wise product categories identified for export promotion include: (A list of products is attached as Annexure-I) Processed food products, millets, spices (chilli, turmeric), rice, and coconut products; Herbal and Ayurvedic products, pharmaceuticals, and medical consumables; Garments, textiles, leather products, jute products, and handicrafts; Granites, engineering goods, EV components, and electrical panels; and Agro-products, essential oils, cosmetics, and bio-degradable products. ANNEXURE-I ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (c) OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 229 FOR ANSWER ON 04.08.2026. State Name of the District Products/Services identified with Export Potential Anantapur Readymade Garments, Automobiles, Leather Puppetry, Dharmavaram Handloom Pattu Sarees Chittoor Polished Granite, Textile and Garments, Mango and Fruit Pulp, Srikalahasthi Kalamkari East Godavari Coir and Coir Products, Rice, Sugar, Frozen Shrimp Guntur Tobacco, Cotton Yarn, Chillies, Fish and Shrimp Krishna Cotton Yarn, Bed Sheets, Bulk Drugs & Intermediates, Andhra Processed Prawns Pradesh Kurnool Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Caustic Soda flakes, Calcium Hypochlorite, Limestone slabs Prakasam Granite, Cashew Products, Sea Foods & Marine products SPSR Nellore Udayagiri Wooden Cutlery, Quartz, Processed Prawn/Shrimp, Rice Srikakulam Cashew Kernels, Granite, Pharma Products, Bulk Drugs Vizianagaram Bulk Drugs and Intermediaries, Cashew Processing, Quartz Grits and Silica Powder, Bobbili Veena Visakhapatnam Coconut based products, Alloy wheels, Cashew, Marine Products West Godavari Cotton Yarn, Processed Prawns/Shrimp, Aqua Feed, Human Hair YSR Kadapa Barium Chloride, Portland Cement, Banana (Cuddapah)(d): As per information provided by the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, the Ministry has established 65 Export Facilitation Centers (EFCs) (attached as Annexure-II) in its field offices across the country to provide mentoring and handholding support to MSMEs in exporting their products and services. These Export Facilitation Centres support MSME exporters by providing comprehensive assistance across key areas, including dissemination of information on export-related schemes, conducting compliance workshops, handholding in export documentation procedures, and engaging with industry associations, State Governments, and the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT). Furthermore, the International Cooperation (IC) Scheme of the Ministry of MSME capacity-builds MSMEs for international trade by facilitating their participation in international exhibitions, trade fairs, conferences, seminars, and buyer-seller meets abroad, alongside reimbursing various costs involved in exporting goods and services. This enables MSMEs to continuously adapt to technological advancements, evolving market demand, and new global export destinations. Additionally, gaps in logistics, warehousing, and export readiness are systematically identified through the consultative District Export Action Plan (DEAP) formulation process. Consequently, District Export Promotion Committees (DEPCs) integrate local Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), Self-Help Groups (SHGs), artisan clusters, and MSMEs into export value chains by mapping their products to district priority baskets and linking them with buyers and financial service providers. Exporter onboarding drives are also being conducted in association with the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) and the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) to assist small exporters, FPOs, and SHGs in overcoming entry barriers and accessing global markets directly. (e): Yes. As per information received from the Government of Andhra Pradesh, District Export Action Plans (DEAPs) are being prepared across all districts through District Industries and Export Promotion Committees (DIEPCs), chaired by respective District Collectors, aimed at enhancing exports by leveraging local product strengths and market opportunities. The State has identified district-specific export potential products and adopted an approach focused on district-level planning, value addition, and export facilitation measures. Sector-specific export promotion initiatives have been undertaken through the organization of Reverse Buyer-Seller Meets (RBSMs), where sector-specific international buyers interact directly with local MSMEs. Four such RBSMs have been conducted at Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada, Tirupati, and Kakinada, facilitating market access and export linkages for MSMEs across sectors such as processed foods, millets, spices, rice, pharmaceuticals, textiles, handicrafts, engineering goods, EV components, electrical panels, and bio-degradable products.Additionally, under the State's "Product Perfection" initiative, district-specific product champions are identified and supported through quality upgradation, standardization, packaging, branding, and certification interventions to integrate local products into global value chains. This initiative is aligned with the District Export Action Plans to promote value-added exports across districts. ANNEXURE-II ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (d) OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 229 FOR ANSWER ON 04.08.2026. List of Export Facilitation Centres (EFCs) S. Name of the state EFC No 1. Andhra Pradesh MSME- Development and Facilitation Office, Visakhapatnam 2. Technology Centre, Pudi, Vizag 3. Assam Tool Room & Training Centre (TRTC), Guwahati 4. MSME- Development and Facilitation Office, Guwahati 5. Bihar MSME- Development and Facilitation Office, Patna 6. MSME- Development and Facilitation Office, Muzaffarpur 7. Chhatisgarh MSME- Development and Facilitation Office, Raipur 8. Delhi MSME Testing Centre, New Delhi 9. MSME- Development and Facilitation Office, New Delhi 10. Goa MSME- Development and Facilitation Office, Margao 11. Gujarat Indo German Tool Room (IGTR), Ahmedabad 12. BR.MSME- Development and Facilitation Office, Rajkot 13. MSME- Development and Facilitation Office, Ahmedabad 14. Haryana Technology Centre, Rohtak 15. MSME- Development and Facilitation Office, Karnal 16. Himachal Pradesh MSME- Development and Facilitation Office, Solan 17. Jammu & Kashmir BR.MSME- Development and Facilitation Office, Srinagar 18. MSME- Development and Facilitation Office, Jammu 19. Jharakhand Indo Danish Tool Room (IDTR), Jamshedpur 20. MSME- Development and Facilitation Office, Ranchi 21. Karnataka MSME- Development and Facilitation Office, Hubli 22. MSME- Development and Facilitation Office, Bangalore 23. Kerala MSME- Development and Facilitation Office, Thrissur 24. Madhya Pradesh Indo German Tool Room (IGTR), Indore 25. Technology Centre , Bhopal 26. MSME- Development and Facilitation Office, Indore 27. Maharashtra Indo German Tool Room (IGTR), Aurangabad 28. Institute for Design of Electrical Measuring Instruments (IDEMI), Mumbai 29. MSME Testing Centre, Mumbai 30. MSME- Development and Facilitation Office, Mumbai 31. MSME- Development and Facilitation Office, Nagpur 32. Manipur MSME- Development and Facilitation Office, Imphal 33. Nagaland MSME- Development and Facilitation Office, Dimapur 34. Odisha Central Tool Room & Training Centre (CTTC), Bhubaneswar 35. MSME- Development and Facilitation Office, Cuttack 36. Puducherry Technology Centre, Puducherry37. Punjab Central Tool Room (CTR), Ludhiana 38. Central Institute of Hand Tools (CIHT), Jalandhar 39. MSME- Development and Facilitation Office, Ludhiana 40. Rajasthan Technology Centre, Bhiwadi 41. MSME- Development and Facilitation Office, Jaipur 42. Sikkim MSME- Development and Facilitation Office, Gangtok 43. Tamil Nadu BR.MSME- Development and Facilitation Office, Coimbatore 44. Central Footwear Training Institute (CFTI), Chennai 45. MSME Testing Centre, Chennai 46. MSME- Development and Facilitation Office, Chennai 47. Telangana Central Institute of Tool Design (CITD), Hyderabad 48. MSME- Development and Facilitation Office, Hyderabad 49. Tripura MSME-Development and Facilitation Office, Agartala 50. BR.MSME- Development and Facilitation Office ,Varanasi 51. Product & Process Development Centre(PPDC), Agra 52. Process cum Product Development Centre (PPDC), Meerut 53. Uttar Pradesh (Centre for Development of Glass Industries (CDGI), Firozabad 54. Fragrance & Flavour Development Centre (FFDC), Kannauj 55. Central Footwear Training Institute (CFTI),Agra 56. MSME-Development and Facilitation Office, Agra 57. MSME-Development and Facilitation Office, Kanpur 58. MSME-Development and Facilitation Office, Allahabad 59. Uttarakhand MSME- Development and Facilitation Office, Haldwani 60. Electronics Service & Training Centre (ESTC), Ramnagar 61. MSME- Development and Facilitation Office, Dehradun, 62. Central Tool Room & Training Centre (CTTC), Kolkata 63. West Bengal MSME Testing Centre, Kolkata 64. BR.MSME- Development and Facilitation Office, Siliguri 65. MSME- Development and Facilitation Office, Kolkata *******