New Delhi : In a landmark move to further India’s export-oriented economic transformation, Union Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs, Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman, addressed the Exim Bank’s Trade Conclave 2025, emphasizing the government’s commitment to export-led growth as a key pillar of the Viksit Bharat vision.
Held on 24th June 2025, the conclave brought together senior policymakers, industry leaders, financial institutions, and academic stakeholders to highlight evolving export strategies and showcase the government’s initiatives to strengthen trade, innovation, and entrepreneurship.
Trade Assistance Programme (TAP): Expanding India’s Export Footprint
In her keynote address, Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman highlighted the success of Exim Bank’s flagship Trade Assistance Programme (TAP), launched in 2022, calling it a “first-of-its-kind trade facilitation initiative” in India. She noted:
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TAP has facilitated over 1,100 export transactions across 51 countries.
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Partnerships have been established with more than 100 overseas banks, creating a wide international network for Indian exporters.
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TAP is instrumental in enabling access to high-risk and underserved export markets, bridging financing gaps and de-risking exporters.
Infrastructure & MSME Reforms to Enhance Export Competitiveness
The Finance Minister outlined the government’s multi-pronged approach to enhance India’s global trade presence. She emphasized the impact of recent reforms, including:
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Massive investments in transport and logistics infrastructure to improve supply chain efficiency.
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Redefined MSME classification and promotion of Udyam registration to encourage formalization.
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Revamp of Credit Guarantee Schemes and expansion of TReDS (Trade Receivables Discounting System) for improved liquidity access.
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Support through Exim Bank’s Ubharte Sitaare Programme, which identifies and nurtures high-potential SMEs.
She added that the government is actively enhancing access to trade finance through platforms like the International Trade Financing Services Platform (ITFS) and Exim Finserve, a subsidiary established in GIFT City, offering services like export factoring to exporters.
Export Hubs and Free Trade Agreements: Local to Global Integration
Smt. Sitharaman elaborated on the progress of the Districts as Export Hubs (DEH) initiative, which is aimed at localizing global trade. The initiative enables small exporters to participate in international trade directly from their home districts, beyond SEZs and traditional ports.
She also noted India’s active role in negotiating Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with various geographies. Importantly, she revealed that FTA negotiations with the European Union and the United States are nearing finalization, which is expected to further catalyze exports.
PLI Scheme Impact and Export Value Surge
The Finance Minister acknowledged the role of the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme in driving manufacturing-led exports. She shared that exports under the PLI scheme have already surpassed ₹5.3 lakh crore, underlining the impact of domestic manufacturing incentives on global trade performance.
Despite global uncertainties, she remarked that India’s export performance has remained resilient and on a growth trajectory, reflecting confidence in Indian products and competitiveness.
Inauguration of Exim Bank Offices and Global Outreach
During the event, Smt. Sitharaman virtually inaugurated Exim Bank’s new offices in:
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Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh)
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Indore (Madhya Pradesh)
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São Paulo (Brazil)
These new offices are expected to play a crucial role in supporting Indian exporters, particularly SMEs, and opening access to new international markets, especially in Latin America and Tier-2 Indian cities.
Empowering SMEs: Ubharte Sitaare and Startup Support
As part of the conclave’s agenda, the Finance Minister presented sanction letters to select SMEs supported under the Ubharte Sitaare Programme, which helps companies with export potential to scale up operations, improve quality, and access new markets.
In a push towards innovation, Exim Bank also signed a technical assistance agreement with IIT Kanpur, aimed at supporting high-potential startups in export-related ventures, offering mentorship, funding, and global market access.
Minister of State for Finance and DFS Secretary Highlight Institutional Strength
Shri Pankaj Chaudhary, Minister of State for Finance, praised Indian exporters for their growing competitiveness and highlighted policy measures to increase credit flows, especially for MSMEs.
Shri M. Nagaraju, Secretary, Department of Financial Services, stated that India’s financial system is now robust and well-positioned to support sustained economic growth and trade under the Viksit Bharat roadmap.
Research Publications Released at the Conclave
During the event, the Minister of State for Finance released three research publications by Exim Bank, offering deep insights into strategic export sectors:
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India’s Need to Secure Critical Minerals for Energy Transition
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India’s Defence Equipment Industry: Exploring New Frontiers
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Textile & Allied Products Trade under ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement: Value Chain Analysis
These studies are expected to guide stakeholders in policy formulation and market development across key industries.
A Collaborative Platform for Export Transformation
Over 200 participants, including heads of financial institutions, industry representatives, export promotion councils, and academia, joined the Trade Conclave physically and virtually. The event served as a powerful platform to align stakeholders on the mission of making India a global export powerhouse.
For more details, check press release on PIB website.
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