Centre Plans Nationwide FTA Outreach To Help MSMEs Expand Exports: Piyush Goyal

New Delhi, Oct 22 (KNN) The government is organising outreach initiatives with state governments to help farmers, workers, women, youth, micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and small businesses benefit from India's expanding network of free trade agreements (FTAs), Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said on Wednesday.

In a social media post, Goyal said the Department of Commerce was working with state governments to help domestic businesses explore export markets and expand the global reach of Made in India products.

Government Plans Nationwide FTA Outreach

He cited Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant's participation in an FTA outreach initiative in Goa, highlighting efforts to encourage local businesses to explore international markets, reported ANI.

More such initiatives will be organised across the country to unlock state-specific export potential, improve utilisation of FTAs and boost export growth, Goyal said.

MSMEs To Benefit From India's Expanding Trade Network

India has expanded its trade agreement network in recent years, with agreements covering markets across Asia, Europe and Oceania.

Key agreements include the India-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, implemented in May 2022, and the India-Australia Economic and Trade Agreement, which came into force in December 2022.

India signed the Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement with the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) in March 2024, which entered into force in October 2025. It also signed trade agreements with the United Kingdom in July 2025 and Oman in December 2025.

Recent Trade Pacts Expand Market Access

The India-New Zealand FTA, announced in December 2025, came into effect on October 20, 2026, while India and the European Union announced an FTA on January 27, 2026. India and the United States also announced a framework for an interim trade agreement in February 2026.

Outreach To Boost FTA Utilisation And Exports

The outreach programme aims to help businesses, particularly MSMEs and small exporters, identify market opportunities and make greater use of the trade concessions available under India's trade agreements.

(KNN Bureau)