Online monitoring portal to give 'Districts as Export Hubs' plan a leg-up

The idea will be to monitor the process of the district-wise export plan across all 750 districts across the country, and enable the states and DGFT regional authorities to upload all information

With an eye on a $2-trillion goods and services export target by 2030 ($1 trillion each), the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) will develop an online monitoring portal to give the ‘Districts as Export Hubs’ initiative a much-needed push. It is one of the priority areas under the new foreign trade policy.

The idea will be to monitor the process of a district-wise export plan across all 750 districts in the country and enable states and DGFT regional authorities (RAs) to upload all information related to products and services, along with the export potential of every district.

“Each DGFT jurisdictional RA will be primarily responsible for updating information/progress made in implementing the export action plan for each district under its jurisdiction. The information will also be available in the public domain for the benefit of trade,” according to the foreign trade policy 2023.

The push towards the scheme comes at a time when India is set to reach $770 billion worth of goods and services exports in 2022-23 and is working towards reaching $1 trillion.

In the past, export promotion has been primarily dealt with by the Centre, without any active mechanism involving states or districts in the decision-making to promote goods and services produced at the grassroots level.

If export promotion activity is decentralised, both for purposes of formulation and implementation, it will not only boost local production but help micro, small and medium enterprises, farmers and small-scale industries get export opportunities in the overseas markets.

To begin with, the government’s focus will be on 75-100 districts where RAs of DGFT will work with the district team. Preparing a district export action will be a key focus area. However, any monetary allocation towards the scheme is yet to be divulged by the government.

A district-wise export plan will have to be prepared, with two-three high potential products and services from the districts. In addition, a comprehensive plan for their export growth will also be drawn up.

The action plan will include ‘specific quantifiable targets’ to be achieved in the short and long term. These plans will outline the interventions required to promote the export of identified products and services from the district.

Each action plan will have to be carefully assessed and mapped by district export promotion committees — an institutional mechanism at the district level.

“The district promotion action plan of each district, once adopted, may be published in the public domain on a dedicated portal,” according to the policy.