Gujarat approves export promotion council to strengthen MSME access to global markets

Gujarat has approved the creation of the Gujarat Export Promotion Council (GEPC) to help micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), start-ups and entrepreneurs enter overseas markets. Announced on 5 November 2026, the initiative will bring market intelligence, technical guidance, certification assistance and trade-finance facilitation under a dedicated state institution.

The council will operate under the Industries and Mines Department. Its establishment follows a recommendation in the Gujarat State Institution for Transformation’s May 2025 report for a focused export promotion body.

How will the council support exporters?

GEPC’s proposed services include market-entry advice, mentoring, business consultancy and assistance with participation in domestic and international trade fairs.

It will prepare district export promotion plans based on local manufacturing capabilities, industrial specialisations, overseas demand and export potential. District-level bodies will coordinate activities intended to connect local producers with international buyers.

The government has also outlined future development of an exporter portal, digital trade platforms, common facilities, incubation centres, testing and certification infrastructure, and logistics support systems. The council will facilitate access to trade finance, insurance and pre- and post-shipment financial assistance. These are planned functions, with the announcement centred on establishing the institution.

How will GEPC be structured?

Under the government resolution dated 3 November 2026, GEPC will be incorporated as a wholly state-owned, non-profit private limited company under Section 8 of the Companies Act, 2013. Its registered office will be in Gandhinagar.

The company will initially have authorised and paid-up capital of ₹1 lakh. Its board will comprise between three and 15 directors, chaired by the Chief Secretary. The Industries Commissioner will serve as managing director.

The council’s remit also includes overseas intellectual property protection and assistance with trade disputes, legal issues and non-tariff barriers. It will support international promotion of products under the “Made in Gujarat” identity.

Technology adoption will form another part of its mandate, covering artificial intelligence, blockchain and digitised export processes. The council will also encourage environmentally sustainable products and compliance with international environmental standards.

Why do smaller manufacturers need export assistance?

Gujarat’s earlier Strategic Investment Plan under the Raising and Accelerating MSME Performance programme identified several obstacles preventing smaller firms from expanding internationally.

These included complex documentation, limited understanding of export policies, difficulty selecting suitable markets and reliable buyers, and uncertainty over logistics costs, tariffs and foreign-exchange movements.

The plan proposed training on overseas standards, closer links with international buyers and better coordination between export promotion agencies. It also envisaged an export promotion cell working with the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), sectoral councils and district committees.

That earlier assessment provides context for the new council: manufacturing capability alone does not resolve the procedural, commercial and compliance requirements associated with selling abroad. For smaller exporters, access to coordinated advice can be particularly relevant when evaluating markets and preparing their first shipments.

How does the initiative fit district-level export planning?

The proposed council comes against the backdrop of the Union government’s Districts as Export Hubs initiative, incorporated into the Foreign Trade Policy 2023.

That framework seeks to identify products and services with export potential, address local constraints and involve state and district institutions more directly in export development.

In a March 2026 update, the Union government reported that draft export action plans had been prepared for 590 districts, of which 249 had been formally notified. Gujarat’s proposed district planning mechanism therefore sits within a broader policy emphasis on helping local manufacturers identify buyers and develop export capabilities.