India’s Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal delivered a clarion call to exporters and industry associations on Thursday: step up efforts to penetrate fresh markets and become more competitive to reap the rewards of hard-won trade pacts.
Addressing representatives from 35 EPCs and major trade groups in New Delhi, Goyal stressed optimal utilization of FTAs with advanced economies. These deals, he noted, are tailored to empower everyone from farmers to MSMEs, fostering employment and supercharging exports.
The Modi government’s strategic negotiations have safeguarded key sectors like agriculture and dairy while promoting India’s Ayurvedic traditions and yoga globally. ‘We’ve built on our ancient trade prowess,’ Goyal said, aligning the initiatives with the ‘Developed India’ goal and the PM’s balanced vision of progress and preservation.
Business leaders hailed recent pacts with the UK, EU, and crucially, the US – where a looming 25% tariff hike on Indian products has been averted via a February 2026 directive. With the US as a top export destination, this development injects fresh vigor into India’s trade competitiveness.
The session reviewed strides in the Export Promotion Mission, spotlighting relief measures such as subsidized interest on export loans, credit guarantees for small businesses, and aid for accessing untapped markets. Goyal’s message was clear: India’s industry must now seize the moment to dominate global shelves.