MSME Minister Launches IndiaXports to Empower 200K First-Time Exporters

By Atif Gavakhadkar --
Wednesday, 22 Nov, 2023

India SME Forum (ISF), India’s largest non for profit organization dedicated to small and medium businesses, today hosted a National Summit to introduce India’s First Mass Export Development Program. This program aims to empower 200,000 first-time exporters, facilitating their entry into international markets by promoting export readiness and capacity building.

During the launch, Shri Narayan Rane, Hon’ble Union Minister of MSME, Government of India, commended the efforts of the India SME Forum in fostering the growth of MSMEs. He highlighted the significance of IndiaXports in line with the government's vision for industrial expansion and global trade promotion. Recognizing the pivotal role of e-commerce exports in enhancing small businesses in India, Rane emphasized the crucial role of initiatives like IndiaXports in boosting capabilities and contributing to India's economic development.

The initiative's pilot project in 2021, supported by the minister, engaged over 8 lakh entrepreneurs, had 20,000 subscribers, addressed 42,000+ help desk queries, and provided mentoring for 1190 MSMEs to overcome export challenges.

The program saw the participation of distinguished guests, including Alok Chaturvedi, Mohammad Moin Afaque, Radhicka Kapoor, Bipin Sapra, Nikita Singla, Ashish Chandra, Rahul Ahluwalia, Deepali Agrawal, Ajay Srivastava, Dinkar Singh, and Dr. Amit Kapoor. Discussions addressed challenges like regulatory compliance and competition, proposing strategies for economic growth. Emphasis was placed on regulatory changes fostering export growth, innovation, quality standards, certifications, and the role of soft power in promoting e-commerce exports.

Shri Santosh Sarangi, IAS, Director General of Foreign Trade, emphasized the need for concerted efforts in goods and services to achieve the ambitious $2 trillion export target. He stressed the crucial role of MSMEs in enhancing manufacturing competitiveness and becoming key catalysts in propelling India towards a major role in global exports.

Shri Ateesh Kumar Singh, Joint Secretary, Ministry of MSME, highlighted the impressive registration on the Udyam portal but noted that the number of actively exporting MSMEs was around 1.93 lakh, indicating untapped potential. To address this, the government initiated outreach and awareness programs, aiming to bridge the knowledge gap in conducting business through e-commerce platforms and encouraging greater MSME involvement in global trade.

Mr. Chetan Krishnaswamy, Vice President, Public Policy, Amazon, highlighted the transformative impact of e-commerce exports in simplifying international commerce for businesses of all sizes. He noted the significant growth on Amazon.in, with sellers from 200+ cities participating in the Exports program.

Mr. Vinod Kumar, President, India SME Forum, reiterated the organization's commitment to elevating India's export capabilities. 'IndiaXports 2.0' aims to break the barrier of limited exposure to global markets, encouraging MSMEs to explore international opportunities and participate in the global marketplace.

MSME Minister Launches IndiaXports to Empower 200K First-Time Exporters. India SME Forum (ISF), India’s largest non for profit organization dedicated to small and medium businesses, today hosted a National Summit to introduce India’s First Mass Export Development Program. This program aims to empower 200,000 first-time exporters, facilitating their entry into international markets by promoting export readiness and capacity building.

During the launch, Shri Narayan Rane, Hon’ble Union Minister of MSME, Government of India, commended the efforts of the India SME Forum in fostering the growth of MSMEs. He highlighted the significance of IndiaXports in line with the government's vision for industrial expansion and global trade promotion. Recognizing the pivotal role of e-commerce exports in enhancing small businesses in India, Rane emphasized the crucial role of initiatives like IndiaXports in boosting capabilities and contributing to India's economic development.

The initiative's pilot project in 2021, supported by the minister, engaged over 8 lakh entrepreneurs, had 20,000 subscribers, addressed 42,000+ help desk queries, and provided mentoring for 1190 MSMEs to overcome export challenges.

The program saw the participation of distinguished guests, including Alok Chaturvedi, Mohammad Moin Afaque, Radhicka Kapoor, Bipin Sapra, Nikita Singla, Ashish Chandra, Rahul Ahluwalia, Deepali Agrawal, Ajay Srivastava, Dinkar Singh, and Dr. Amit Kapoor. Discussions addressed challenges like regulatory compliance and competition, proposing strategies for economic growth. Emphasis was placed on regulatory changes fostering export growth, innovation, quality standards, certifications, and the role of soft power in promoting e-commerce exports.

Shri Santosh Sarangi, IAS, Director General of Foreign Trade, emphasized the need for concerted efforts in goods and services to achieve the ambitious $2 trillion export target. He stressed the crucial role of MSMEs in enhancing manufacturing competitiveness and becoming key catalysts in propelling India towards a major role in global exports.

Shri Ateesh Kumar Singh, Joint Secretary, Ministry of MSME, highlighted the impressive registration on the Udyam portal but noted that the number of actively exporting MSMEs was around 1.93 lakh, indicating untapped potential. To address this, the government initiated outreach and awareness programs, aiming to bridge the knowledge gap in conducting business through e-commerce platforms and encouraging greater MSME involvement in global trade.

Mr. Chetan Krishnaswamy, Vice President, Public Policy, Amazon, highlighted the transformative impact of e-commerce exports in simplifying international commerce for businesses of all sizes. He noted the significant growth on Amazon.in, with sellers from 200+ cities participating in the Exports program.

Mr. Vinod Kumar, President, India SME Forum, reiterated the organization's commitment to elevating India's export capabilities. 'IndiaXports 2.0' aims to break the barrier of limited exposure to global markets, encouraging MSMEs to explore international opportunities and participate in the global marketplace.