Lok Sabha Question No. 1837 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-10
Subject: Promoting Exports from Nashik
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: Shri Rajabhau Parag Prakash Waje

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 1837 ANSWERED ON 10/02/2026

## PROMOTING EXPORTS FROM NASHIK

## 1837. SHRI RAJABHAU PARAG PRAKASH WAJE:

Will  the  Minister  of COMMERCE  AND  INDUSTRY ¼okf.kT;  ,oa  m|ksx  ea=h½ be pleased to state:

- (a)    whether  the  Government  recognizes  Nashik  district  of  Maharashtra  as  a  major export  cluster  for  grapes,  onions,  wine,  processed  agri-products,  engineering goods and pharmaceuticals, and if so, the details thereof;
- (b)   the specific steps taken during the last three years to promote exports from Nashik, including market access, logistics, cold-chain, testing and certification facilities;
- (c)      whether new global markets have been identified for Nashik's agri and industrial exports amid the recent export slowdown and, if so, the details thereof; and
- (d)   the targeted support being provided to MSMEs and small exporters of Nashik to enhance  competitiveness and reduce export-related costs?

## ANSWER

## okf.kT; ,oa m|ksx ea=ky; esa jkT;ea=h ¼Jh ftfru izlkn½ THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY

## (SHRI JITIN PRASADA)

(a) to (d) Districts as Export Hubs  (DEH) is a capacity-building initiative of the Directorate  General  of  Foreign  Trade  (DGFT),  Department  of  Commerce,  aimed  at promoting exports, manufacturing, and employment generation at the grassroots level.

Under the DEH initiative, export facilitation, handholding and sensitisation support, and onboarding  to digital e-commerce  and  logistics platforms are provided, thereby equipping  exporters  and  MSMEs  with  the  essential  support  required  to  effectively engage  in  international  trade  through  awareness  programs. Awareness  programmes were held every year for the benefit of exporters in the Nashik district.

Grapes, onions, wine, processed agri-products, and pharmaceutical products from the Nashik  district  of  Maharashtra  are  identified  as  focus  products  under  the  Districts  as Export Hubs (DEH) initiative.

The  District  Export  Promotion  Committee  (DEPC)  has  been  constituted  for  Nashik District,  comprising  representatives  from  the  regional  authority  of  DGFT,  the  district authority,  other  state  and  central  government  authorities,  etc.,  to  oversee  districtspecific  export  facilitation  initiatives,  review  constraints,  and  recommend  appropriate interventions.

The DEPC of Nashik district has also prepared the District Export Action Plan (DEAP), identifying  export  potential,  supporting  local  businesses,  improving  infrastructure,  and connecting them to global markets for Nashik District.

Further,  the  Government  has  approved  the  Scheme  for  Export  Promotion  Mission (EPM)  for  the  period  FY  2025-26  to  FY  2030-31  on  November  12,  2025,  aimed  at strengthening India's export competitiveness and supporting exporters in global markets,  particularly  MSMEs.  The  EPM  shall  operate  through  two  integrated  subschemes:

- i. Niryat Protsahan,  focused on improving access  to trade finance through instruments such as interest subvention, export factoring, collateral guarantee for export credit, credit for e-commerce exporters, and credit enhancement support for export diversification; and
- ii. Niryat  Disha,  focused  on  other  trade  enablers,  including  export  quality  and compliance  support, international branding and  packaging, market  access initiatives, export logistics & warehousing, and trade intelligence.

EPM would support exporters of all regions, including Nashik.

The Department of Commerce, through the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export  Development  Authority  (APEDA),  has  launched  the  new  initiative  'BHARATI' (Bharat's Hub  for Agritech, Resilience,  Advancement  and  Incubation  for  Export Enablement).  It  is  designed  to  empower  agri-food  startups,  promote  innovation,  and address export challenges in product development and logistics.

The Government has launched the Trade Connect e-Platform to provide comprehensive trade-related information to Indian exporters, particularly  MSMEs.  It  acts  as  an intermediary platform connecting Indian Missions Abroad, Export Promotion Councils, and the Department of Commerce to provide services and answer queries for new and existing exporters.

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