New Delhi: Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has called on exporters and industry bodies to fully utilise India’s Free Trade Agreements with developed nations to expand global presence, generate employment and boost exports of goods and services.
The minister held a meeting with 35 Export Promotion Councils and key industry associations representing major export sectors. Industry leaders welcomed the government’s trade-promotion initiatives and appreciated recent steps taken to strengthen India’s export ecosystem.
Goyal said that the government had signed trade agreements with developed countries to help farmers, workers, professionals, artisans and MSMEs access global markets through preferential terms. He added that these agreements will create opportunities for traditional medicine and yoga while protecting the interests of India’s agriculture and dairy sectors.
“Industry must now intensify its efforts to penetrate new markets, upgrade quality and become more competitive to take maximum advantage of trade agreements. India has made its mark in international trade since the ancient era. Our trade deals will accelerate our Viksit Bharat mission and carry forward Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s mantra of ‘Vikas bhi, Virasat bhi’,” Goyal said during the interaction.
Industry representatives expressed gratitude to the Prime Minister and the Commerce and Industry Minister for enabling the successful conclusion of trade agreements with the United Kingdom, European Union and the United States. Particular appreciation was expressed for the removal of the additional 25 % tariff on Indian imports to the United States, terminated through the United States Executive Order dated 6 February 2026. This move is expected to restore competitive market access for Indian exports.
Industry bodies noted that the United States remains one of India’s largest export destinations and that tariff relief provides renewed stability and competitiveness to exporters. Associations representing sectors previously impacted by the US tariff measures, including gems and jewellery, textiles and apparel, carpets, leather and footwear, marine products, handicrafts, engineering goods and chemicals, said the rollback has restored business confidence and protected employment in labour-intensive industries.
Key participants in the meeting included the Federation of Indian Export Organisations, Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council, Apparel Export Promotion Council, Council for Leather Exports, Engineering Export Promotion Council of India, Basic Chemicals, Cosmetics and Dyes Export Promotion Council, Cotton Textiles Export Promotion Council, Manmade and Technical Textiles Export Promotion Council and other textile bodies. Representatives from the Carpet Export Promotion Council, Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts and agricultural bodies such as the Seafood Exporters Association of India, APEDA, SHEFEXCIL and IOPEPC also attended.
Apex industry chambers including FICCI, ASSOCHAM, NASSCOM and PHDCCI, along with several other sectoral associations, were present at the meeting. The ministry also made presentations on recent trade engagement with the United States, outlining market access opportunities, compliance requirements and export expansion pathways. Industry representatives welcomed the clarity and reaffirmed their commitment to scale exports in priority sectors.
Discussions reviewed progress under the Export Promotion Mission, the government’s framework to support exporters. Industry welcomed interventions already introduced under the mission, including enhanced access to trade finance through interest subvention support for export credit loans, collateral guarantee for export credit extended to MSMEs and targeted market access support.
Additional measures related to trade finance, export logistics, export compliance, branding and market diversification are expected to be introduced in phases to further strengthen India’s export ecosystem. The minister reiterated the government’s commitment to accelerating export growth, deepening global integration and using trade agreements to position India as a trusted global supply partner.
BI Bureau
