Piyush Goyal meets export councils to chart growth strategy following India–New Zealand FTA signing.
Union Minister for Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal chaired a meeting with representatives of 30 Export Promotion Councils (EPCs) and apex industry chambers at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, on April 27, 2026. The meeting followed the signing of the India–New Zealand Free Trade Agreement and was attended by senior officials from the Department of Commerce and the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT). India’s total merchandise and services exports reached a record USD 860.09 billion in FY 2025–26, reflecting a 4.22% year-on-year growth, with sectors including engineering goods, electronics, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, gems and jewellery and agri-based products sustaining momentum despite global disruptions.
The DGFT presented an export reform framework covering sectoral performance, a KPI-based structure for EPCs, e-commerce export promotion, the Districts as Export Hubs initiative, a proposed Digital Trade Academy and progress under the Export Promotion Mission. Industry representatives raised concerns over compliance costs, testing requirements and challenges faced by MSMEs in accessing export markets. The Minister assured continued government support through existing schemes and targeted measures aimed at reducing entry barriers and improving ease of doing business.
Source: Press Information Bureau (PIB)
