<p>On <strong>27 April 2026</strong>, <strong>Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Shri Piyush Goyal</strong> chaired a high‑level meeting at <strong>Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi</strong> with representatives of 30 <span class="key-term" data-definition="Export Promotion Councils (EPCs) — Sector‑specific bodies that assist exporters, coordinate with the government and help in market development (GS3: Economy)">EPCs</span> and major industry chambers. The gathering followed the signing of the <span class="key-term" data-definition="Free Trade Agreement (FTA) — A treaty between two or more countries to reduce trade barriers such as tariffs, facilitating smoother cross‑border trade (GS3: Economy)">India‑New Zealand FTA</span> and aimed to chart a roadmap for strengthening India’s export ecosystem.</p>
<h3>Key Developments</h3>
<ul>
<li>India’s merchandise and services exports reached a record <strong>USD 860.09 billion</strong> in FY 2025‑26, a <strong>4.22% YoY growth</strong>.</li>
<li>The Minister reiterated the <span class="key-term" data-definition="Viksit Bharat — The government's vision to achieve a $2 trillion export target by 2030, reflecting a focus on high‑value manufacturing and services (GS3: Economy)">Viksit Bharat</span> goal of <strong>USD 2 trillion</strong> exports by 2030 and urged full utilisation of existing <span class="key-term" data-definition="Free Trade Agreement (FTA) — A treaty between two or more countries to reduce trade barriers such as tariffs, facilitating smoother cross‑border trade (GS3: Economy)">FTAs</span>.</li>
<li>The <span class="key-term" data-definition="Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) — The agency under the Ministry of Commerce that formulates and implements foreign trade policy, issues licenses and monitors export‑import data (GS3: Economy)">DGFT</span> presented a comprehensive export reform framework covering sectoral performance, KPI‑based monitoring for <span class="key-term" data-definition="Export Promotion Councils (EPCs) — Sector‑specific bodies that assist exporters, coordinate with the government and help in market development (GS3: Economy)">EPCs</span>, e‑commerce exports, and the creation of a Digital Trade Academy.</li>
<li>Industry bodies highlighted compliance costs, testing requirements and the difficulty for <span class="key-term" data-definition="Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) — Enterprises with investment up to ₹10 crore and turnover up to ₹50 crore, crucial for employment generation and export diversification (GS3: Economy)">MSMEs</span> to enter export markets.</li>
<li>The Government assured continued facilitation through schemes, targeted interventions and an accelerated drive for the <span class="key-term" data-definition="Export Obligation Discharge Certificate (EODC) — A document that certifies fulfilment of export obligations, required for certain export incentives (GS3: Economy)">EODC</span> issuance.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Important Facts</h3>
<p>Key export‑