The minister led a gathering with Export Promotion Councils (EPCs) and industry associations in New Delhi on April 27 to explore strategies aimed at bolstering India’s export ecosystem amid shifting global trade dynamics.
This meeting, which took place after the India–New Zealand FTA signing ceremony at Bharat Mandapam, saw participation from representatives of 30 EPCs, various industry chambers, and senior officials from the Department of Commerce and the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT).
Industry participants raised concerns about compliance burdens, testing standards, and the challenges MSMEs encounter in entering international markets. Goyal reassured attendees of ongoing government support, including facilitation via existing schemes and targeted efforts to lower entry barriers and enhance the ease of doing business.
In discussing export performance, the minister announced that India’s total merchandise and services exports hit a record $860.09 billion in FY26, reflecting a 4.22% year-on-year growth. He pointed out that sectors such as engineering goods, electronics, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, gems and jewellery, and agri-based products continued to thrive despite global disruptions.
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Goyal further encouraged the industry to aim for $2 trillion in exports by 2030, stressing the importance of fully utilizing free trade agreements with developed nations to broaden market access and create jobs.
Previously, in February 2026, he mentioned that India’s expanding FTA network had considerably enhanced access to international markets, with almost 70% of global GDP and two-thirds of global trade now reachable through nine completed agreements, including the initial segment of the bilateral trade agreement with the United States.
