Centre clears Rs 25,060 Crore Export Promotion Mission (EPM) to empower MSMEs and first-time exporters

As global supply chains navigate one of the most volatile periods in recent memory—marked by shipping delays, freight spikes, and unpredictable trade routes—the Government of India has unveiled a sweeping upgrade of its logistics and export-support architecture. The objective is clear: shield Indian exporters from prolonged global disruptions and accelerate the country’s march toward an export-driven economy.

At the heart of this renewed push is the Export Promotion Mission (EPM), a flagship programme approved by the Union Cabinet with a Rs 25,060-crore outlay spanning FY26 to FY31. The Mission replaces a cluttered landscape of fragmented schemes with a single, outcomes-based framework designed to adapt dynamically to global market shifts, digital trade norms, and the evolving needs of first-time exporters and MSMEs.

To bolster liquidity at a time when unpredictable shipping cycles often translate into cash-flow stress, the Government has operationalised the Credit Guarantee Scheme for Exporters (CGSE). Managed by the National Credit Guarantee Trustee Company, the scheme provides 100 percent guarantee coverage on an additional Rs 20,000 crore of credit, enabling exporters—especially MSMEs—to maintain operations and pursue new global orders even in turbulent conditions.

Complementing this, ECGC has introduced a series of reforms aimed at easing capital access and reducing risk for small exporters. The corporation has rolled out collateral-free export credit cover for micro and small enterprises up to Rs 10 crore, enhanced its coverage for banks on export credit loans without raising premiums, expanded its direct-policy cover to 100 percent for exporters seeking insurance without intermediaries, and simplified claim settlement procedures for short-term policies to improve turnaround time. ECGC has also partnered with the Ministry of MSME to offer premium refunds for first-time exporters under the Capacity Building of First Time MSE Exporters initiative, further lowering the cost of market entry.

A major thrust of India’s export strategy now rests on digitisation, and the launch of Bharat Trade Net (BTN) has emerged as a central pillar in this effort. Designed as a cutting-edge digital public infrastructure by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade, BTN aims to digitise thirty key trade documents, integrate seamlessly with platforms such as ULIP and the Reserve Bank of India’s ULI, and eliminate repetitive data submission through secure, interoperable workflows.

Anchored in India’s G20-driven advocacy for paperless cross-border trade and aligned with global standards like UNCITRAL’s MLETR, BTN promises to dramatically reduce compliance burdens for MSMEs, improve access to export finance, accelerate customs processes, and cut transaction costs by removing manual checks and data duplication. In effect, BTN is positioned to become the operating system for India’s future trade ecosystem.

While digitisation offers speed, India is also building export capacity from the ground up. Grassroots programmes such as Districts as Export Hubs (DEH) and E-Commerce Export Hubs (ECEH) are enabling artisans, start-ups, farmer-producer groups, and small manufacturers to access global markets with lower logistics costs and simplified procedures.

In parallel, India’s logistics overhaul—driven by the National Logistics Policy and PM Gati Shakti—is enhancing multimodal connectivity, reducing transit bottlenecks, and pushing domestic logistics costs closer to global benchmarks. The National Industrial Corridor Development Programme is playing a complementary role, with state-level special purpose vehicles offering flexible land leases, early-bird discounts, and investor-friendly terms to attract MSMEs into next-generation industrial ecosystems.

India’s traditional export engines—spices, coir, marine products, and handloom—are being upgraded with targeted interventions to foster value addition and global competitiveness. MPEDA is prioritising MSME units in its technology development scheme for value-added seafood, aiming to strengthen the processing ecosystem for high-margin products. The Spices Board’s SPICED scheme is driving technology adoption, quality assurance, incubation support, and global marketing initiatives for farmer groups and SMEs, including those in the Northeast and underserved communities.

The Coir Board is supporting entrepreneurs through international trade fair participation, certification assistance, and technical workshops, while the Ministry of Textiles is deepening support for the handloom sector through raw-material access, design development, product diversification, global exhibitions, and MUDRA-based financing. Adding further momentum, the Government’s SFURTI programme continues to revitalise traditional industrial clusters with up to 90 percent grant support for common facility centres, modern processing infrastructure, raw-material banks, and market intelligence systems.

As exporters increasingly seek alternatives beyond saturated or restrictive markets, India is scaling its trade diplomacy efforts. Signature platforms such as the India–Africa Conclave, supported by the Ministries of Commerce & Industry and External Affairs, are fostering new commercial linkages across Africa and Latin America.

The Government is also engaging with global partners through Joint Commission Meetings and Joint Trade Committees to ease market-entry barriers and address long-standing trade bottlenecks. In recognition of shifting global risk dynamics, ECGC has upgraded country ratings for twenty-four emerging markets since September 2025, lowering insurance costs and encouraging Indian exporters to diversify into high-growth geographies.

Taken together, these initiatives mark a decisive shift in India’s export strategy—one that blends trade finance, digital infrastructure, logistics modernisation, sector-specific interventions, and global market outreach into a unified, MSME-centric architecture. As global supply chains continue to reset, the Government is betting that this integrated model will not only safeguard India’s exporters from ongoing disruptions but also accelerate the country’s transition toward a resilient, competitive, and globally recognised export ecosystem.