New Delhi, Feb 20 (.) In a major push to strengthen India’s export ecosystem and empower Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Friday launched a series of new interventions under the revamped Export Promotion Mission (EPM).
The announcement was made in the presence of senior officials, including Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agarwal, industry representatives and stakeholders.
The initiative aims to enhance global competitiveness, improve access to trade finance, reduce logistics bottlenecks and support Indian exporters in tapping new and emerging markets.
Addressing the gathering, Goyal said inclusive growth and social justice can only be achieved when small businesses and entrepreneurs at the grassroots level are empowered to access global markets.
He emphasized that MSMEs form the backbone of India’s export sector and that targeted policy support would help them scale operations and integrate into global value chains.
The Minister highlighted that India’s expanding network of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) has significantly widened market access for Indian exporters. With multiple trade agreements covering a large share of global GDP and trade, Indian businesses now have better opportunities in developed and emerging markets alike.
He added that ongoing reforms aimed at reducing compliance burdens and simplifying procedures have further improved the ease of doing business for exporters.
Under the revamped mission, seven new interventions have been introduced under two key frameworks — Niryat Protsahan and Niryat Disha.
Under Niryat Protsahan, the focus is on financial and credit support for exporters. A key feature is interest subvention on export factoring to ease working capital challenges faced by MSMEs.
Structured credit support for e-commerce exports, including overseas inventory financing, has also been introduced. In addition, mechanisms have been designed to help exporters explore high-risk and emerging markets with better liquidity and risk-sharing solutions.
Under Niryat Disha, the emphasis is on strengthening the trade ecosystem. The ‘TRACE’ initiative will support exporters in meeting international regulatory and certification requirements through partial reimbursement of testing and compliance costs.
‘FLOW’ will assist in establishing overseas warehousing and fulfilment centres to improve global logistics efficiency. ‘LIFT’ aims to address freight and transport disadvantages faced by exporters in remote and low-export-intensity districts. ‘INSIGHT’ will strengthen district-level trade intelligence and facilitation systems to identify new export opportunities.
Goyal said these interventions are designed to reduce the cost of capital, diversify trade finance instruments, improve compliance readiness and address logistics challenges that hamper export growth.
He noted that initiatives such as overseas warehousing facilities, including Bharat Mart in Dubai, would provide strategic platforms for Indian exporters in regions such as the Gulf, Africa and Europe.
The mission will adopt a coordinated approach, working closely with ministries, financial institutions, export promotion councils and industry bodies to ensure effective implementation. The government will also use digital monitoring systems to track progress and ensure timely delivery of benefits to exporters.
Highlighting recent trends, the Minister said India has recorded encouraging growth in merchandise exports in early February, reflecting the resilience of the country’s trade ecosystem.
He expressed confidence that the strengthened Export Promotion Mission would accelerate export growth, enhance MSME participation in global trade and contribute to India’s long-term economic expansion.
. SAS PRS