BS EDIT: Export ambitions

By Business StandardPublished On Aug 4, 2026

The decentralisation push

The Centre wants states and districts to drive export promotion through local action plans, product identification and stronger industrial clusters

The intent is to make exports more locally rooted

Where states matter

Export competitiveness often begins at the ground level

States can improve logistics, power supply, land access, testing facilities and cluster ecosystems that help firms enter global markets

Local insights, global goals

Districts are better placed to identify practical hurdles faced by exporters, from poor connectivity to certification delays

Removing these bottlenecks can help businesses scale internationally

Limits of state action

Key export drivers remain with the Centre. Trade agreements, market access negotiations, tariff policy and responses to global barriers require national-level interventions

The tariff challenge

India’s manufacturing exports face high input costs partly due to tariff structures

Reducing these constraints and improving access to global value chains will be crucial for competitiveness

Aligning accountability

Export growth needs coordinated action. States must create conditions for competitive firms to emerge, while the Centre must lead on trade policy and global integration