The government’s approval of a ₹45,000 crore ($5 billion) export support package is not merely an economic intervention; it is a strategic signal that India is ready to deepen its engagement with fast-growing markets, especially across Southeast Asia.

The two flagship components of the package — the ₹25,060 crore ($2.8 billion) Export Promotion Mission (EPM) and the ₹20,000 crore ($2.2 billion) Credit Guarantee Scheme for Exporters (CGSE) — together create a strong, forward-looking foundation for India’s export expansion.

A renewed vision for global competitiveness

The Export Promotion Mission represents a structural transformation in India’s export support framework. Instead of fragmented and scheme-based incentives, EPM introduces a unified, digitised and outcome-oriented architecture that can swiftly align with evolving global opportunities.

Its two integrated pillars — NiryatProtsahan and Niryat Disha — complement each other perfectly.

One enhances access to affordable trade finance, while the other strengthens market readiness, branding and compliance capabilities. For India’s exporters, this means smoother processes, stronger visibility and greater ability to compete in sophisticated global markets.

This modernisation of export support also signals India’s readiness to grow into a central node in Southeast Asia’s supply networks — a region where demand is rising, consumption patterns are diversifying, and new production hubs are emerging.

Empowering MSMEs for an expanding market landscape

A positive, transformative feature of the package is its focus on micro, small and medium exporters. These businesses often serve as the backbone of India’s labour-intensive sectors — textiles, leather, engineering goods, gems and jewellery, marine products and more.

By ensuring easier access to credit through CGSE, supported by guarantees and risk-reduction mechanisms, the government is enabling MSMEs to confidently pursue new market opportunities.

This is particularly promising for deeper engagement with Southeast Asian economies, where Indian MSMEs have strong potential to diversify exports. From speciality textiles to engineering components, processed foods and affordable fashion, the demand across ASEAN is expanding rapidly.

With improved financing and better global compliance support, Indian exporters are now better equipped to tap into these markets with consistency and scale.

Building a digitally enabled export ecosystem

One of the most forward-looking elements of the new framework is its digital backbone. The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) will manage applications, approvals and disbursals through an integrated portal that aligns with existing trade systems.

This creates an enabling environment that is transparent, efficient and responsive — attributes that benefit both established exporters and those entering global markets for the first time.

Digital facilitation also enhances India’s attractiveness as a trade partner for Southeast Asia’s technology-driven economies, which prioritise predictability and speed in their supply chain engagements.

As India expands its role in the region’s production networks, this technological uplift will serve as a strategic advantage.

A forward-thinking focus on branding, compliance and market access

Niryat Disha’s focus on non-financial enablers marks a progressive shift in India’s export philosophy. Global trade today is driven as much by quality, certifications and branding as it is by price competitiveness.

The scheme’s support for packaging, international branding, trade fair participation, capacity building and export intelligence strengthens India’s positioning in markets where consumers and distributors value reliability, traceability and high standards.

This holistic approach is particularly well aligned with Southeast Asia’s emerging middle-class economies, where premiumisation trends are spreading and where Indian products — from handicrafts to electronics components — can expand their footprint significantly with the right branding support.

A boost for investors, advisors and export-oriented businesses

For investors, fund managers and financial advisors, the government’s decisive move signals renewed confidence in India’s long-term export growth story.

Several sectors — engineering goods, marine products, textiles, leather, gems and jewellery — stand to gain not just from financial incentives but from improved market-readiness and value-chain integration.

Wealth managers and mutual fund distributors may find new opportunities within manufacturing-linked themes, export-enablers, logistics providers and supply-chain technology companies — all of which could benefit from India’s sustained export push.

The combination of supportive policy, expanding regional demand and growing global confidence in India’s production capabilities forms a positive long-term narrative for investments aligned with export growth.

Towards a stronger, more confident external trade strategy

The ₹45,000 crore ($5 billion) package represents a strategic pivot in India’s export journey — one that acknowledges the country’s rising potential in global markets and reinforces its commitment to partnership, competitiveness and excellence.

The emphasis on inclusivity, technology, increased access to finance and stronger market integration sets the tone for the next decade of India’s export evolution.

Equally important, it conveys a message of confidence: India is not only strengthening its domestic export ecosystem; it is actively positioning itself to grow alongside Southeast Asia — a region that will play a defining role in the future of global trade.

With EPM and CGSE forming the core of a modern export-support architecture, India is better equipped than ever to expand its presence, deepen its collaborations and build a more resilient, forward-looking trade footprint across one of the world’s most dynamic regions.

This strategic pivot is not just a policy measure — it is a bold reaffirmation of India’s emerging role in shaping the economic landscape of tomorrow.