Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Friday urged state governments to make exports a top governance priority and fully utilise the BHAVYA Industrial Parks Scheme, while setting an ambitious target of achieving $1 trillion in exports.
Addressing the Board of Trade (BoT) meeting in New Delhi, Goyal unveiled a seven-point action agenda for states, Export Promotion Councils (EPCs), industry bodies and exporters aimed at accelerating India’s export growth through closer Centre-State coordination.
The minister called on states to establish export committees, hold regular interactions with exporters and conduct monthly reviews of export performance. He also urged states to participate actively in the BHAVYA Industrial Parks Scheme and expedite the notification of labour rules under the labour codes, describing land and labour as two key enablers of business. Stressing the need to strengthen quality infrastructure, Goyal said the Centre would support the establishment of testing facilities in government, semi-government and university laboratories to reduce compliance costs and improve the competitiveness of Indian products.
Highlighting the Centre’s Export Promotion Mission (EPM), Goyal said the ₹25,000-crore initiative, jointly implemented by the Ministries of Commerce, MSME and Finance, would support MSME-led exports by assisting businesses in obtaining international certifications, meeting regulatory requirements and accessing overseas markets. Through its two pillars—NIRYAT PROTSAHAN and NIRYAT DISHA—the mission covers trade finance, credit, warehousing, freight, compliance, trade intelligence and Brand India initiatives. He also encouraged industries facing unfair trade practices to approach the Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR), which can provide relief through anti-dumping and safeguard measures.
The minister also stressed the importance of import substitution, urging states and industries to identify products that can be manufactured competitively in India to reduce import dependence and strengthen domestic supply chains. He further encouraged active participation in international exhibitions, trade fairs and business delegations, particularly by new exporters and MSMEs, with support from the Export Promotion Mission.
Announcing a 90-day export drive under the Districts as Export Hubs initiative, Goyal said it would cover 120 priority districts across 27 states and Union Territories. Supported by 24 DGFT regional authorities and 11 partner agencies, the campaign will focus on increasing exporter registrations and boosting export value while converging with the One District One Product initiative, GI products and MSME clusters.
Reviewing India’s trade performance, Goyal said the country recorded its highest-ever exports of $863 billion in FY 2025-26, registering 4.6% growth despite tariff realignments, freight disruptions and slowing global demand. Merchandise exports stood at around $442 billion, while services exports crossed a record $421 billion. He attributed the performance to the resilience of Indian exporters, market diversification and reforms undertaken under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership.
The Board of Trade also reviewed presentations on India’s free trade agreements, the DGTR’s new SETU digital platform, the Government e-Marketplace (GeM), DPIIT’s startup ecosystem, the BHAVYA Industrial Parks Scheme, the Ministry of Textiles’ Vision 2030, the country’s expanding data-centre ecosystem and electronics manufacturing under the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme. Apple India Managing Director Virat Bhatia highlighted mobile phone production worth around ₹6.25 lakh crore under the PLI programme.
Describing cross-border e-commerce as the easiest entry point for first-time exporters, Goyal urged states to leverage Dak Ghar Niryat Kendras so that every district becomes an exporting district. He also highlighted opportunities in container manufacturing and reiterated the government’s commitment to strengthening testing and certification infrastructure.
During the meeting, ministers and representatives from states and Union Territories shared best practices and suggestions to improve India’s export competitiveness. Goyal called for regular meetings of State Export Promotion Committees, monthly district-level export reviews, faster resolution of regulatory and infrastructure bottlenecks, and alignment of state policies with central schemes.
The minister said India should aim to achieve $1 trillion in exports, comprising approximately $530 billion in merchandise exports and $470 billion in services exports, describing the goal as ambitious but achievable through coordinated efforts by the Centre, states, industry and exporters. He expressed confidence that such collaboration would accelerate India’s journey towards becoming a globally competitive, self-reliant and developed nation.
