The Indian government has approved a ₹25,060 crore Export Promotion Mission (EPM) to enhance the competitiveness of MSMEs and other exporters for the next six years (FY 2025-26 to FY 2030-31). It intends to combine schemes such as Interest Equalisation and the Market Access Initiative into a flexible framework that addresses trade finance, compliance, branding, and logistical concerns, with a focus on MSMEs, first-time exporters, and labour-intensive sectors. The objective aims to unify scattered export support into a uniform, digitally enabled framework.

• Increasing access to inexpensive trade financing.

• Improve market preparedness and compliance.

• Expanding worldwide market access.

Textiles, leather, gems and jewellery, engineering goods, and maritime products have received precedence.

Operational Flow

The EPM will be operated via two routes: Niryat Protsahan and Niryat Disha.

Niryat Protsahan: Financial support for exporters

It aims to improve MSMEs' access to inexpensive trade finance using a variety of instruments, including interest subvention, export factoring, collateral guarantees, credit cards for e-commerce exporters, and credit enhancement support for market diversification.

Niryat Disha: Nonfinancial Export Facilitation

Niryat Disha, on the other hand, will prioritize non-financial enablers that improve market readiness and competitiveness, such as export quality and compliance support, assistance with international branding, packaging, and trade fair participation, export warehousing and logistics, inland transportation reimbursements, and trade intelligence and capacity-building initiatives.

Governance

EPM is based on a coordinated institutional architecture that includes the Department of Commerce, MSME Ministry, Finance Ministry, Export Promotion Councils, Commodity Boards, banking institutions, industry associations, and state governments. Furthermore, the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) serving as the implementing agency.

Digital Implementation and Monitoring Framework

The Export Promotion Mission is carried out through a dedicated digital portal controlled by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT).

• An integrated, paperless system is used for all processes, including application, approval, and disbursement.

• The platform integrates with existing trade and customs systems for speedier processing and transparent delivery.

• The Mission uses an outcome-based and adaptive framework to respond to changing global trade dynamics.

 • The digital infrastructure enables coordinated deployment, outcome-based delivery, and timely oversight.

Outcomes expected

EPM aspires to achieve measurable changes in India's export ecosystem.

• Improve access to inexpensive trade finance, especially for MSMEs and first-time exporters, through a streamlined export incentive plan in India.

• Improved export preparedness with compliance, certification, and quality assistance.

• Improved market access, branding, and global visibility for Indian exports.

• Boosted exports from non-traditional districts and developing sectors.

• Generating jobs in manufacturing, logistics, and allied services to drive export growth.

Recent developments

Market Access Support (MAS).

The government has also created the Market Access assistance (MAS) Intervention as part of the NIRYAT DISHA initiative, which provides financial and institutional assistance for activities such as buyer-seller meetings and participation in international trade fairs to help Indian exporters gain worldwide market access.

Credit-Linked Schemes

Two recent revisions to the Niryat Protsahan have been made to improve access to finance and lower the cost of loan for MSME exporters by providing subvention and collateral guarantees.

Bottomline

The Export Promotion Mission is a long-term growth catalyst that will help speed India's transition to a globally competitive, export-led economy. The mission's goal is to boost India's industrial and employment landscape by providing MSMEs with capital, market access, and compliance support.