The Union Cabinet is set to discuss this week a major proposal for an Export Promotion Mission (EPM) aimed at strengthening India’s export ecosystem through targeted financial and market support, officials said.
The mission is structured around two key pillars—trade finance and market access—and is designed to provide exporters, particularly in the MSME (micro, small, and medium enterprises) and labour-intensive sectors, with a sustained competitive edge in global markets.
The trade finance pillar, called ‘Niryat Protsahan’, focuses on interest subvention, factoring, e-commerce export cards, and collateral support. The second pillar, ‘Niryat Disha’, addresses market access and includes support for export compliance, branding and packaging, logistics and warehousing, and trade intelligence.
“The final note is likely to be circulated this week for the consideration of the Union Cabinet,” an official said.
Originally announced in this year’s budget, the EPM seeks to address both financial and non-financial bottlenecks faced by Indian exporters. India’s merchandise exports in August were 6.7% higher year-on-year at $35.1 billion, while for the first five months of the current fiscal, they rose 2.52% to $184.13 billion.
Although the government initially announced the mission with a budgetary outlay of ₹2,250 crore, the Commerce and Industry Ministry has proposed a ₹22,000 crore mega plan over the next six years. The plan aims to provide easier access to export credit, tackle non-tariff barriers in overseas markets, establish a ‘Brand India’ identity similar to Japan, Korea, and Switzerland, support the development of e-commerce hubs, and develop export-focused districts.
The move comes amid concerns over rising US tariffs on Indian goods, which could affect around $48.2 billion of exports, particularly in textiles, chemicals, leather, and footwear. Some schemes also focus on risk-sharing for exporters entering new markets.
“Export enablers and finance are the key elements of the mission,” an official said, adding that third-party evaluation, monitoring, and stakeholder-responsive mechanisms are being considered to ensure effective execution and transparency.
The Cabinet’s discussion this week is seen as a significant step toward boosting India’s export competitiveness and reducing dependence on specific global markets, while strengthening the country’s position in international trade.
