SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth | SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
Ministry of Commerce & Industry | Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT)
The Export Promotion Mission is a multi-pronged initiative by the government designed to accelerate export growth, promote trade competitiveness, and enhance India’s integration into global value chains. The mission’s overarching strategy is to move beyond conventional support mechanisms by focusing on structural reforms, digital governance, and creating a robust, distributed export ecosystem.
Key Pillars and Focus Areas of the Mission:
Streamlining Logistics and Infrastructure:
The mission aims to address logistical bottlenecks by strengthening multimodal connectivity and enhancing trade efficiency through the National Logistics Policy (NLP).
Focus is placed on developing Dedicated Freight Corridors (DFCs), modernizing ports, and increasing the speed and efficiency of border clearance processes.
Policy and Digital Simplification (DGFT Initiatives):
The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) leads the simplification of trade procedures. This includes using paperless, faceless platforms for import-export code (IEC) registration, licensing, and incentive applications, significantly improving the Ease of Doing Business.
Focus is placed on digitalizing trade documentation and adopting blockchain technology to enhance transparency and security in trade transactions.
Support for SMEs and New Exporters:
A primary goal is to empower SMEs to participate actively in international trade.
Support includes providing access to affordable trade finance, market intelligence, and capacity-building programs to help SMEs comply with international quality and technical standards.
State-Level Engagement and District Hubs:
The mission is driven by a “Whole-of-Government” approach, actively involving state governments and district administrations.
The creation of District as Export Hubs links local production clusters and artisanal goods directly to global markets.
The “Whole-of-Government” Approach in Export Promotion signifies a strategic effort to coordinate and align the objectives and resources of multiple central ministries (e.g., Commerce, Finance, Railways, MSME) and state governments toward the single national goal of boosting exports. It ensures that policies related to infrastructure, finance, trade facilitation, and skill development work seamlessly together to remove systemic barriers for exporters.
Policy Relevance
This comprehensive mission is vital for achieving India’s goal of becoming a global manufacturing and trade powerhouse, driving exports, and securing its position in restructured global value chains. The emphasis on digital governance, SME enablement, and state-level coordination is crucial for unlocking efficiency gains and ensuring that the benefits of export growth are broadly distributed across the country’s diverse economic base.
Relevant Question for Policy Stakeholders: What specific metric-based targets has the Ministry of Commerce set to measure the effectiveness of the “District as Export Hubs” initiative in terms of new exporter registration and export value added by SMEs?
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