Cabinet approves Export Promotion Mission

• The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the Export Promotion Mission (EPM) with a total outlay of Rs 25,060 crore for six financial years on November 12.

Highlights of Export Promotion Mission:

• It is an initiative announced in the Union Budget 2025-26 to strengthen India’s export competitiveness, particularly for MSMEs, first-time exporters, and labour-intensive sectors. 

• The Mission will provide a comprehensive, flexible, and digitally driven framework for export promotion. 

• It marks a strategic shift from multiple fragmented schemes to a single, outcome-based, and adaptive mechanism that can respond swiftly to global trade challenges and evolving exporter needs.

• EPM is anchored in a collaborative framework involving the Department of Commerce, Ministry of MSME, Ministry of Finance, and other key stakeholders including Financial Institutions, Export Promotion Councils, Commodity Boards, industry associations, and state governments.

• Priority support will be extended to sectors impacted by recent global tariff escalations, such as textiles, leather, gems & jewellery, engineering goods, and marine products. 

• The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) will act as the implementing agency, with all processes — from application to disbursal — being managed through a dedicated digital platform integrated with existing trade systems.

• EPM consolidates key export support schemes such as the Interest Equalisation Scheme (IES) and Market Access Initiative (MAI), aligning them with contemporary trade needs.

Implementation of the Mission

• The mission will be implemented through two sub-schemes — Niryat Protsahan (Rs 10,401 crore) and Niryat Disha (Rs 14,659 crore).

• Under Niryat Protsahan, focus will be given to improve access to affordable trade finance for MSMEs through a range of instruments such as interest subvention, export factoring, collateral guarantees, credit cards for e-commerce exporters, and credit enhancement support for diversification into new markets.

• Under the Niryat Disha, the funds will be used for non-financial enablers such as assistance for international branding, packaging, and participation in trade fairs, export warehousing and logistics, inland transport reimbursements, and trade intelligence and capacity-building initiatives.

The Mission is expected to:

a) Facilitate access to affordable trade finance for MSMEs.

b) Enhance export readiness through compliance and certification support.

c) Improve market access and visibility for Indian products.

d) Boost exports from non-traditional districts and sectors.

e) Generate employment across manufacturing, logistics, and allied services.