The Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC) has welcomed the incentives announced by the Government under the Export Promotion Mission, describing the initiative as timely, forward-looking, and transformative for India’s apparel sector.
The Mission is expected to significantly strengthen the country’s export competitiveness by addressing structural challenges across the entire export lifecycle, from sourcing raw materials to global branding and market access.
A Strategic Cushion and Growth Catalyst
Commenting on the announcement, Dr A. Sakthivel, Chairman, AEPC, stated:
“The Export Promotion Mission will serve both as a strategic cushion against global uncertainties and as a powerful catalyst to unlock emerging opportunities in new and established markets. The Mission’s most powerful feature is its comprehensive ‘360-degree support’ that addresses every critical stage of the export journey: raw material procurement, compliance, logistics, branding, marketing, and financing.”
He emphasised that this holistic framework empowers small suppliers and Indian brands to reach global customers through e-commerce channels, while enabling larger manufacturers to deliver high-volume orders efficiently to major international markets.
In a global environment marked by volatile demand, rising compliance standards, and competitive tariff regimes, such integrated policy support is seen as critical for sustaining growth momentum.
Timely Support Amid FTA Opportunities
Dr Sakthivel further highlighted that with Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with the United Kingdom, European Union, and other key economies expected to be implemented soon, significant tariff advantages will open doors to some of the world’s largest apparel markets.
However, he stressed that tariff benefits alone are not sufficient. Rapid capacity expansion, technological upgradation, infrastructure strengthening, and improved compliance readiness are essential for Indian manufacturers to fully leverage these opportunities.
“The Export Promotion Mission arrives as the exact ‘just-in-time’ support the industry has been waiting for,” he noted.
Empowering MSMEs Across the Export Lifecycle
A major strength of the Mission lies in its targeted support for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), which form the backbone of India’s apparel export ecosystem.
By addressing bottlenecks across every stage of the export journey, the Mission equips both established enterprises and emerging players with the confidence and resources required to scale globally.
It aims to tackle critical constraints faced by MSMEs, including:
- High cost of capital.
- Limited access to diversified trade finance instruments.
- Increasing compliance requirements in global markets.
- Logistics-related disadvantages.
- Barriers to entry in international marketplaces.
The integrated framework combines financial enablers under Niryat Protsahan with trade facilitation support under Niryat Disha, delivered through a unified and digitally monitored system. This convergence ensures transparency, accountability, and streamlined implementation.
Key Incentives Under the Export Promotion Mission
The newly launched interventions are designed to directly improve export competitiveness through targeted financial and operational support.
Direct E-Commerce Credit Facility
This initiative provides collateral-free credit support of up to ₹50 lakh with 90% guarantee coverage. The scheme is particularly beneficial for MSMEs seeking to expand their presence in global digital marketplaces, enabling them to invest in inventory, digital marketing, and order fulfilment without excessive financial burden.
TRACE – Trade Regulations, Accreditation & Compliance Enablement
TRACE supports exporters in meeting international regulatory standards, certifications, and compliance requirements. As global markets increasingly demand stringent environmental, social, and governance (ESG) adherence, such assistance enhances credibility and facilitates smoother market access.
FLOW – Facilitating Logistics, Overseas Warehousing & Fulfilment
FLOW enables exporters to access overseas warehousing and fulfilment infrastructure, including integration with global e-commerce distribution networks. The scheme offers assistance of up to 30% of the approved project cost.
By strengthening last-mile delivery capabilities and reducing turnaround time, FLOW enhances reliability, a crucial factor for retaining global buyers.
LIFT – Logistics Interventions for Freight & Transport
LIFT addresses geographical disadvantages faced by exporters in districts with lower export intensity. The scheme provides partial reimbursement of up to 30% of eligible freight expenditure, subject to a ceiling of ₹20 lakh per Importer Exporter Code (IEC) per financial year.
This intervention aims to improve parity across regions and encourage export participation beyond established clusters.
Bharat Mart Initiative
The development of overseas warehousing platforms such as Bharat Mart in Dubai represents a strategic push toward market integration. The facility is designed to provide Indian exporters with direct access to markets across the GCC, Africa, Central Asia, and Europe.
Such initiatives enhance visibility, reduce lead times, and support deeper integration into global value chains.
Strengthening India’s Position as a Preferred Sourcing Destination
Collectively, the measures under the Export Promotion Mission are expected to reduce transaction costs, improve the ease of doing export business, and accelerate India’s integration into global supply chains.
Dr Sakthivel emphasised that the initiative positions India not merely as a competitive alternative, but as a preferred global sourcing destination. Over time, it is expected to attract increased buyer engagement, joint ventures, strategic partnerships, and foreign investments in the apparel sector.
By providing structured support across finance, logistics, compliance, and digital market access, the Mission lays the groundwork for India’s transformation into a world-class supplier of apparel.
Converting Opportunity into Leadership
AEPC has reiterated its commitment to working closely with the Ministry of Commerce and Industry to ensure effective implementation of the Mission.
“With these strong policy tailwinds now in place, the Indian apparel sector is ready to convert opportunity into sustained, high-value export growth and enduring global leadership,” Dr Sakthivel concluded.
As global sourcing dynamics evolve and supply chains diversify, the Export Promotion Mission provides a comprehensive framework for Indian apparel manufacturers to scale confidently, compete effectively, and lead globally.
