India’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry is taking free trade agreement guidance to state-level workshops, aiming to help exporters turn negotiated tariff access into sales in overseas markets.
The Oct. 19 session in Panaji was organized by Goa’s Directorate of Industries, Trade and Commerce with the national ministry and the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT). Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant attended. Participants examined preferential access, rules of origin, standards and market-entry provisions. Four sector groups discussed engineering and electronics; pharmaceuticals and chemicals; marine and food products; and services.
On Oct. 17, the Department of Commerce said it had held an outreach programme in Jaipur covering preferential tariffs, rules of origin, quality and certification requirements, and links with overseas buyers. The ministry said an exporter’s access to preferences varies with the product, destination and terms of the relevant agreement. It also cited food safety, traceability and other import-market requirements as factors for agricultural exporters.
At a Sept. 3 workshop, Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal urged states to map where existing FTAs are helping exporters and where businesses need support to use them. He also called for states to identify new products and first-time exporters. Separately, he called for small businesses and others to be reached across all 780 districts. That figure describes the intended reach of the drive, not completed workshop coverage.
The outreach comes as India’s merchandise and services exports rise. The ministry estimated exports at $476.20 billion in April–September 2026–27, compared with $418.31 billion in April–September 2025–26, an increase of 13.84%. These are India’s fiscal reporting periods. India’s free trade agreement with New Zealand took effect Oct. 20.
Goa organizers discussed using the workshop findings to shape a state action plan and holding follow-up meetings in districts.
