Goyal Urges Industry To Use FTAs To Boost Exports

13 Feb 2026 CW Team

Goyal said the government had concluded FTAs with developed partners to enable farmers, workers, professionals, artisans and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to access markets on preferential terms. The agreements were said to open global opportunities for traditional medicine and yoga while safeguarding agriculture and dairy interests. The minister urged industry to intensify efforts to enter new markets, upgrade quality and become more competitive to exploit the trade advantages.

Industry expressed gratitude to the prime minister and the minister for leadership that enabled recent deals with the United Kingdom, the European Union and the United States of America. Particular appreciation was noted for the removal of the additional 25 per cent tariff on Indian imports to the United States through the United States Executive Order dated six February 2026, which is expected to restore competitive market access and provide renewed stability. Associations said the United States is among India’s largest export destinations and that the tariff rollback is significant for exporters.

Representatives from labour-intensive sectors such as gems and jewellery, textiles and footwear said the rollback has revived business confidence and safeguarded employment. The ministry presented the trade engagement, outlining market access opportunities, compliance frameworks and pathways for export expansion, and industry welcomed the clarity provided. Discussions reviewed progress under the Export Promotion Mission (EPM) and interventions already rolled out, including interest subvention support for export credit loans, collateral guarantee for export credit to MSMEs and targeted market access support, with further measures to be introduced in a phased manner. The minister reiterated the government’s commitment to accelerate export growth, deepen global integration and position India as a trusted supply partner.

Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal urged exporters and industry bodies to use Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) to expand India’s presence in world markets, maximise job creation and boost exports of goods and services. He addressed a meeting of 35 Export Promotion Councils (EPCs) and leading industry associations representing major export sectors. Industry representatives conveyed appreciation for government trade promotion initiatives and discussed steps to scale exports. Goyal said the government had concluded FTAs with developed partners to enable farmers, workers, professionals, artisans and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to access markets on preferential terms. The agreements were said to open global opportunities for traditional medicine and yoga while safeguarding agriculture and dairy interests. The minister urged industry to intensify efforts to enter new markets, upgrade quality and become more competitive to exploit the trade advantages. Industry expressed gratitude to the prime minister and the minister for leadership that enabled recent deals with the United Kingdom, the European Union and the United States of America. Particular appreciation was noted for the removal of the additional 25 per cent tariff on Indian imports to the United States through the United States Executive Order dated six February 2026, which is expected to restore competitive market access and provide renewed stability. Associations said the United States is among India’s largest export destinations and that the tariff rollback is significant for exporters. Representatives from labour-intensive sectors such as gems and jewellery, textiles and footwear said the rollback has revived business confidence and safeguarded employment. The ministry presented the trade engagement, outlining market access opportunities, compliance frameworks and pathways for export expansion, and industry welcomed the clarity provided. Discussions reviewed progress under the Export Promotion Mission (EPM) and interventions already rolled out, including interest subvention support for export credit loans, collateral guarantee for export credit to MSMEs and targeted market access support, with further measures to be introduced in a phased manner. The minister reiterated the government’s commitment to accelerate export growth, deepen global integration and position India as a trusted supply partner.

Infrastructure Urban

14 Apr 2026

Eurobond Reports Rs 5050.8 Mn Revenue in FY26

Euro Panel Products, parent company of EUROBOND, reported total revenue of Rs 5050.8 million in FY26, recording 19.3 per cent year-on-year growth over Rs 4231.9 million in the previous financial year. The company said the performance reflects its continued scale-up in domestic and international operations.The growth was supported by a 22.4 per cent rise in production, with the company manufacturing and shipping more than 160, 000 sheets during the year. Eurobond attributed this to backward integration, supply chain improvements and the expansion of its portfolio of architectural façade materi..

Infrastructure Urban

14 Apr 2026

Hitachi Vantara Named Leader in Object Storage

Hitachi Vantara, the data infrastructure and hybrid cloud subsidiary of Hitachi Ltd., has been recognised as a Leader and Fast Mover in the 2026 GigaOm Radar for Object Storage. The report highlights its Virtual Storage Platform One Object (VSP One Object) for strong scalability, efficient capacity utilisation, and advanced data reduction capabilities tailored for large enterprises.The GigaOm Radar evaluates enterprise object storage platforms based on technical performance, innovation, and business impact. With organisations increasingly handling large volumes of unstructured data and adoptin..

Technology

14 Apr 2026

BALCO Deploys AI Humanoid for Smelter Operations

Bharat Aluminium Company (BALCO), a unit of Vedanta Aluminium, has deployed ALAISA (Aluminium AI Support Agent), a humanoid AI-powered assistant to strengthen shop-floor capability, operational efficiency, and safety in aluminium manufacturing.Operational at its Chhattisgarh smelter, ALAISA serves as a real-time training and decision-support interface, offering contextual guidance on SOPs, maintenance practices, and safety protocols. The system combines conversational AI with plant-specific intelligence to deliver on-ground assistance.In its initial phase, over 100 employees have been trained ..