**Summary:**
As of June 30, 2025, the Indian government has issued 5,892 Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) certificates as part of its ongoing efforts to expedite exports and imports. This initiative, overseen by the Ministry of Finance, provides AEO certificate holders with several facilitation measures, including higher priority for import and export consignments, Direct Port Delivery (DPD) for import containers, Direct Port Entry (DPE) for export containers, automated clearance and onsite examination for eligible consignments, deferred payment options for Tier III and Tier II AEO certificate holders, relaxed bank guarantee norms (where applicable), and recognition by partner government agencies and stakeholders.
Indian AEO certificate holders also benefit from trade facilitation support from foreign customs administrations through Mutual Recognition Arrangements (MRAs). These arrangements acknowledge supply chain security standards, allowing for faster cargo release, fewer inspections, and expedited customs clearance in partner countries, thereby enhancing the global trade efficiency of Indian exporters.
To promote the AEO scheme, particularly among Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), the government has conducted over 60 outreach programs across the country in the last three years. In November 2024, a global conference, "India AEO Dialogue: Enhancing Global Trade Partnerships," was held. Additional conferences took place in April and May 2025 to further raise awareness. In 2020, the accreditation process was streamlined for MSMEs, with prioritized application processing, rationalized annexure requirements, and relaxed bank guarantee norms to encourage greater participation.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Finance: The ministry responsible for financial matters in the Government of India.
Authorized Economic Operator AEO: A program by the Government of India to facilitate exports and imports.
Shri Pankaj Chaudhary: Union Minister of State for Finance.
Rajya Sabha: The upper house of the Parliament of India, where a question related to the AEO framework was answered.
Direct Port Delivery DPD: A facility for import containers under the AEO framework.
Direct Port Entry DPE: A facility for export containers under the AEO framework.
Mutual Recognition Arrangement MRAs: Agreements between India and other countries to recognize AEO certificates.
MSMEs: Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, a sector with a focus in the AEO Scheme.
Ministry of Finance
Several initiatives taken by the Government to fast-
track exports and imports
5,892 Authorized Economic Operator (AEO)
certificates issued as on 30th June, 2025
Posted On: 29 JUL 2025 6:10PM by PIB Delhi
The Government of India has taken many steps to fast-track exports and imports under the Authorized
Economic Operator (AEO) framework. This was stated by Union Minister of State for Finance Shri Pankaj
Chaudhary in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.
The key steps taken includes the following facilitation measures for AEO certificate holders:
Higher level of facilitation in import and export of consignments;
(cid:108)
Facility of Direct Port Delivery (DPD) import containers and/or Direct Port Entry (DPE) for export
(cid:108)
containers;
Automated Clearance and On-site examination for certain type of consignments;
(cid:108)
Facility of Deferred payment for Tier-III and Tier-II AEO certificate holders;
(cid:108)
Relaxed norms for submission of bank guarantee, wherever applicable;
(cid:108)
Recognition by Partner Government Agencies and other Stakeholders.
(cid:108)
AEO certificate holders also receive trade facilitation support from foreign customs administrations
(cid:108)
with whom India has signed Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRAs), thereby enhancing their
global trade efficiency.
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The Minister stated that as on 30 June, 2025, 5,892 AEO certificates were issued.
Giving more details, the Minister further stated that the Government of India conducted more than
60 outreach programmes across the country in last 3 years, with particular focus on MSMEs to raise
awareness about the AEO Scheme. Government of India conducted a global conference titled
"India AEO Dialogue: Enhancing Global Trade Partnerships" in November 2024. Two conferences
were also held in April and May 2025, with various stakeholders to raise awareness about the AEO
programme. To increase participation of MSMEs, in 2020, along with prioritized processing of their
applications, the accreditation process was relaxed for MSMEs, annexures to be provided with
application for AEO certification by MSMEs were also rationalized. The norms for submission of
bank guarantee, wherever required, were also relaxed for AEO Certificate holder MSMEs.
Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRAs) are based on mutual acknowledgment of supply chain
security standards and AEO certificate holders of one country are recognized as secure and low-
risk by the customs administration of another. Accordingly, exports by Indian AEO Certificate
holders enjoy faster cargo release, fewer inspections and expedited customs clearance in partner
countries, thus making exports by Indian AEO certificate holders more competitive and enhancing
trade facilitation for them in partner countries.
****NB/KMN
(Release ID: 2149859)