Lok Sabha Question No. 1534 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-29
Subject: Ease of Compliance in Export System
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: Shri K E Prakash

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1534 ANSWERED ON 29/07/2025

## EASE OF COMPLIANCE IN EXPORT SYSTEM

## 1534. SHRI K E PRAKASH :

Will the Minister of COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY ( वाणिज्य एवं उद्योग मंत्री ) be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government has taken any measures to improve transparency  and  ease of compliance  in  the  export  system,  especially  in  view  of  the  growing  focus  on  value  addition across sectors;

- (b) whether  specific  steps  have  been  initiated  to  facilitate  small  businesses  with  minimal capital to expand their distribution reach through third-party exporters or merchant exporters;

(c) if  so,  the  details  of  such  initiatives,  including  any  simplified  procedures,  incentives  or digital platforms designed to support these businesses; and

(d) whether there are any specific initiatives to promote the export of agro-based products, particularly  to  facilitate  exporters  in  agro-focused  regions  such  as  Erode  and  if  so,  the  details thereof?

## ANSWER

## वाणिज्य और उद्योग मंत्रालय में राज्य मंत्री ( श्री णिणिन प्रसाद ) THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (SHRI JITIN PRASADA)

(a) to (c) The  Government  has  undertaken  several  initiatives  to  promote  transparency, foster ease of compliance in the export system and to facilitate exports, especially from MSMEs and small businesses with minimal capital. These include the following:

(i) Directorate  General  of  Foreign  Trade  (DGFT),  under  the  Ministry  of  Commerce  & Industry,  has  introduced  multiple  digital  reforms  to  simplify  and  modernize  foreign  trade processes.  The  DGFT  portal  enables  seamless  online  application  and  approval  for  various Foreign  Trade  Policy  (FTP)  benefits,  including  Advance  Authorisation,  Export  Promotion Capital Goods (EPCG), and Status Holder certification. The portal is integrated with ICEGATE, GSTN, MCA, and PFMS for efficient data validation and processing.

(ii) Other key initiatives taken by DGFT include the self-certification mechanism for eBRCs, and  the  digitized  e-Certificate  of  Origin  (eCoO  2.0)  system,  enabling  real-time  authentication

and  reducing  manual  burden. The  revamped  e-Certificate  of Origin  (eCoO)  2.0  system, operational for both Preferential and Non-Preferential CoOs, enables end-to-end digital issuance with QR code and Aadhaar-based e-signatures. It connects exporters with issuing agencies and chambers of commerce on a single online platform, thereby improving authentication and service delivery.

(iii) In  order  to  assist  Indian  exporters,  the  Ministry has  also  launched  the  Trade  Connect ePlatform  (https://www.trade.gov.in/),  as  one-stop  interface  for  addressing  trade  queries  and enhancing  access  to  international  markets.  Key  features  of  the  ePlatform  include  information about the Trade Agreements and provision of a Tariff Explorer to assess FTA benefits, Country and Product Guides for market access and compliance insights, Global e-Commerce Guide, and information  on  Trade  Events  Worldwide.  Additionally,  the  platform  hosts  EXIM  Paathshaala (learning modules), the 'Ask an Expert' feature for resolving trade-related queries, the 'Source from India' discovery tool for foreign buyers in order to connect to verified Indian exporters, and the unified Certificate of Origin issuance system for Indian exporters.

(iv) Further, in order to strengthen stakeholder interaction, the Ministry has operationalized the  Jan-Sunwai  facility,  a  digital  grievance  redressal  platform  that  provides  on-demand  video conferencing  between  exporters  and government  officials.  The  system  ensures real-time grievance handling, direct access to officers, and promotes transparency through audit trails.

(v) Further, benefits  of  availing  export  promotion  schemes  under  Chapters  4  and  5  of  the Foreign  Trade  Policy  (FTP)  2023  are  available  to  all  eligible  exporters,  including  small businesses,  third-party  exporters,  and  merchant  exporters.  Therefore,  in  order  to  promote inclusive access and ease of compliance for such entities, the Government has introduced several supportive measures such as reduced application fees for MSMEs applying for benefits under export  promotion  schemes  viz.  Advance  Authorisation  and  Export  Promotion  Capital  Goods (EPCG).

(vi) The  Niryat  Bandhu  Scheme,  a  flagship  outreach  initiative  by  DGFT,  is  designed  to support  and  empower  new  and  small  exporters  by  providing  them  with  expert  guidance, mentorship,  and  handholding  support  throughout  their  export  journey.  This  scheme  aims  to facilitate their entry into the international trade and enhance India's overall export competitiveness.

These initiatives have enhanced accessibility for small exporters while reducing procedural burdens and manual intervention.

(d) The Government has taken measures to improve ease of compliance in the export system for all types of exporters, including exporters in agro-focused regions such as Erode. Developing District as Export Hub Initiative under Chapter 3 of FTP 2023 identifies the products/services (including  GI  products,  agricultural  clusters  and  toy  clusters)  with  export  potential  in  all  the districts  of  the  country.  Institutional  mechanism  in  the  form  of  State  Export  Promotion Committees (SEPC) at State/UT level and District Export Promotion Committees (DEPCs) at the district  level  has  been  created  in  all  districts  of  the  country  to  provide  support  for  export promotion and address the bottlenecks for export growth in the districts.

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