India to launch ₹20,000 crore export promotion mission by September

India plans to launch a ₹20,000‑crore long‑term initiative by September to protect its exporters from global trade volatility, according to officials. The proposed Export Promotion Mission will include measures to improve access to export credit and address non‑tariff barriers in overseas markets.

The move comes as the commerce and industry ministry urges exporters to develop and market Indian brands to better cope with the 25% tariff imposed by the US, “For the mission to function as a full-fledged scheme, we need over ₹20,000 crore for the next five to six years. This is currently under discussion,” an official said. The mission, jointly driven by the commerce and industry, MSME, and finance ministries, is expected to support exports to the US as well as other key markets. “We need to finalise it by August so that it can go live in September,” the official added.

The plan also seeks to raise Brand India’s global profile—similar to efforts by Japan, South Korea, and Switzerland—while supporting the creation of e‑commerce hubs and turning districts into export centres.

The move comes after Washington imposed a blanket 25% tariff on all Indian‑origin goods, effective August 7, along with an additional unspecified penalty. By comparison, India’s competitors such as Pakistan, Vietnam, Bangladesh, and Turkey face duties in the 15–20% range. The steep U.S. tariff could affect nearly half of India’s annual exports to the market, worth over $85 billion.

The Export Promotion Mission will focus on five key areas: trade finance; non‑trade finance covering regulations, standards, and market access; strengthening Brand India; development of e‑commerce hubs and warehousing; and trade facilitation. For MSME exporters, the proposal includes fully or partially collateral‑free loans, capped per exporter and tied to their credit history.