Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Shri Piyush Goyal, chaired a high-level meeting with Export Promotion Councils (EPCs) and Industry Associations at Vanijya Bhawan in New Delhi. The session included officials from the Department of Commerce and the Department of Revenue, alongside representatives from key trade bodies across various sectors.

The meeting focused on the evaluation of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) — both concluded and under negotiation — including their utilisation, associated challenges, and potential opportunities for Indian exporters. Participants also provided industry feedback and outlined expectations for ongoing FTA talks.

The Department of Commerce presented insights into the performance of Special Economic Zones (SEZs), highlighting recent reforms and those proposed to further streamline processes. These include simplifying procedures, boosting economies of scale, and utilising idle capacities at SEZs. The ultimate objective is to support India’s ambition of reaching a USD 5 trillion economy by 2027.

Breakout discussions were also held on the implementation of ICEGATE (Indian Customs EDI Gateway) in SEZs, involving officials from the Department of Revenue and trade members.

Industry representatives from a wide range of sectors — including textiles, apparel, engineering, gems and jewellery, medical devices, services, AYUSH, leather, and organisations such as FIEO and Assocham — praised the government’s initiatives to strengthen India’s trade ecosystem and expand global market access.

Shri Piyush Goyal reiterated the Centre’s commitment to fostering a supportive trade environment through regulatory ease, improved infrastructure, and the creation of new opportunities for exporters. He urged the industry to scale up manufacturing, diversify supply chains, and reduce reliance on imports to advance the vision of an Atmanirbhar Bharat.