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The Export Promotion Mission (EPM) is a flagship export-boosting initiative approved by the Union Cabinet and announced in the Union Budget 2025–26. It aims to strengthen India’s export ecosystem by improving competitiveness, especially for MSMEs, first-time exporters, and labour-intensive sectors, amid evolving global trade challenges.

What is the Export Promotion Mission (EPM)?

• EPM is a comprehensive, outcome-oriented and digitally driven framework for export promotion.
• It represents a strategic shift from multiple fragmented schemes to a single, adaptive mission-mode approach.
• Time period & outlay: ?25,060 crore from FY 2025-26 to FY 2030-31.

Objectives

• Enhance export competitiveness of Indian products.
• Improve access to affordable trade finance for MSMEs.
• Reduce compliance and logistics bottlenecks.
• Expand market access and branding for Indian exporters.
• Boost exports from non-traditional districts and regions.
• Support employment generation in manufacturing, logistics, and allied sectors.

Institutional Framework

• Anchored in a collaborative mechanism involving:
  • Department of Commerce
  • Ministry of MSME
  • Ministry of Finance
  • Financial institutions, Export Promotion Councils, Commodity Boards, industry bodies, and State governments
• Implementing agency:Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT).
• All processesfrom application to fund disbursalwill be managed through a dedicated digital platform integrated with existing trade systems.

Key Features

• Consolidation of schemes: Integrates existing export support measures such as:
  • Interest Equalisation Scheme (IES)
  • Market Access Initiative (MAI)
• Outcome-based design: Focus on measurable export performance and responsiveness to global trade disruptions.
• Priority sector support: Special emphasis on sectors affected by recent global tariff escalations, including:Textiles, Leather, Gems &Jewellery, Engineering goods, and Marine products.

Sub-schemes under EPM

1. NIRYAT PROTSAHAN (Financial Support)

• Aims to improve access to affordable trade finance, especially for MSMEs.
• Key instruments include:
  • Interest subvention
  • Export factoring
  • Collateral and credit guarantees
  • Credit cards for e-commerce exporters
  • Credit enhancement for market diversification

2. NIRYAT DISHA (Non-financial Enablers)

• Focuses on improving market readiness and competitiveness.
• Support areas include:
  • Export quality and compliance assistance
  • International branding and packaging
  • Participation in trade fairs
  • Export warehousing and logistics support
  • Inland transport reimbursements
  • Trade intelligence and capacity-building initiatives

Significance

• Addresses structural constraints such as costly finance, high compliance costs, fragmented market access, and logistical disadvantages.
• Encourages inclusive export growth, particularly from MSMEs and interior regions.
• Aligns with India’s long-term vision of Viksit Bharat @2047 by making exports more technology-enabled, resilient, and globally competitive.