To build awareness of the benefits on offer under India’s Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) and help exporters use them effectively, the Department of Commerce held an outreach programme titled “Leveraging FTAs – Outreach Programme” in Jaipur, Rajasthan. Joint Secretary in the Department of Commerce, Shri Mohit Yadav, addressed the programme, which drew exporters from various sectors as well as representatives of the Government of Rajasthan, the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), Jaipur Special Economic Zone and the Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC).
The aim of the programme was to help Indian enterprises turn the preferential market access available under FTAs into export opportunities, using targeted information, capacity building, practical guidance and coordination between the Department of Commerce, State Governments, industry associations and exporters.
The event was significant given India’s growing engagement with the global economy. At the Bloomberg New Economy Forum in New Delhi, the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi stated, “Our constant endeavour is to ensure that India’s capabilities open new doors of opportunity for other countries as well.” In his Independence Day speech on 15 August 2026 and at other events, the Prime Minister has pointed to the opportunities FTAs create for Indian producers, farmers and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), and has stressed the need to meet international quality standards in order to reach global markets.
Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Shri Piyush Goyal has likewise drawn attention to the commercial openings created by India’s FTAs, observing that preferential market access can generate opportunities for farmers, women entrepreneurs, youth, MSMEs, artisans and industry. He has called on businesses to make use of reduced- or zero-duty access by concentrating on quality and competitiveness.
India’s exports of goods and services have kept growing. Total exports for April–September 2026–27 are estimated at US$ 476.20 billion, against US$ 418.31 billion in the same period of 2025–26, an estimated growth of 13.84%. In September 2026, merchandise export growth was led by electronic goods, petroleum products, organic and inorganic chemicals, engineering goods, and cotton yarn, fabrics, made-ups and handloom products.
The programme gave Rajasthan’s exporters a forum to discuss the opportunities under India’s FTAs and the practical hurdles they face in using preferential market access. India’s trade agreements and arrangements with partners such as the UAE, Australia, the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) countries and the United Kingdom open routes for Indian goods and services to reach overseas consumers, buyers, investors and value chains, subject to the provisions and implementation status of each agreement.
Discussions centred on identifying export-ready products, understanding tariff preferences and rules of origin, meeting quality and certification requirements, and building stronger links with overseas buyers. These areas matter if businesses are to make full use of the market access available under India’s trade agreements.
On export opportunities for the gems and jewellery sector, a sector-specific presentation was made by Joint Director General of Foreign Trade, Jaipur, Shri Md. Moin Afaque, covering India’s recently concluded FTAs. According to the presentation, India is the eighth-largest exporter of gems and jewellery in the world, holding a 2.9% share of the US$ 1 trillion global market. It also set out the import market opportunities under India’s new FTAs, which, as stated in the presentation, include immediate duty-free access across tariff lines in each of the agreements.
The presentation assessed India’s competitive standing against major supplier countries and pinpointed product categories and FTA markets where Indian exporters could gain from tariff advantages. Lab-grown diamond jewellery, coloured gemstones, Kundan-Meenakari heritage jewellery, smart and wearable jewellery, recycled and ethically sourced gold jewellery, and pearl and cultured jewellery were flagged as emerging opportunities. Given Rajasthan’s established presence in gems and jewellery, these opportunities are especially relevant for the State.
Rajasthan has considerable potential to add to India’s export growth through textiles and garments, handicrafts, gems and jewellery, engineering goods, stone and minerals, and agricultural and processed-food products. According to the Rajasthan Economic Review 2024–25, the State aims to become a US$ 350 billion economy by 2029 and to reach exports of ₹1.5 lakh crore by 2029, in line with the Rajasthan Export Promotion Policy (REPP) 2024. The Rajasthan Budget 2026–27 further lays out the vision of Viksit Rajasthan @ 2047, targeting a US$ 4.3 trillion economy by 2047. These goals are in step with the national vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047.
FTAs can open new markets for Rajasthan’s farmers and farmer-producer organisations (FPOs) for eligible agricultural produce, millets, spices and processed foods, provided food-safety, traceability and other importing-country requirements are met. For MSMEs and artisans in textiles, handicrafts, jewellery and engineering, tariff preferences can make prices more competitive and help them take part in international supply chains. Women-led enterprises and self-help groups stand to gain from export training, e-commerce and buyer linkages, while larger firms can look at investment, technology partnerships and market diversification. The actual benefits will vary with the product, the partner country and the applicable FTA provisions.
The outreach programme seeks to deepen Rajasthan’s role in global trade by linking enterprises in Jaipur, Jodhpur, Udaipur, Bhilwara and other districts with international buyers and supply chains. Better awareness of trade preferences, export documentation, product standards, logistics and market intelligence can help first-time exporters grow beyond the domestic market.
Support from the State Government, together with initiatives to develop industrial areas and parks, export-focused sector-specific task forces, and policies and schemes that promote credit facilities, financial incentives, market linkages, skill development, quality certification, technology upgradation and e-commerce, can give further impetus to entrepreneurship, employment and livelihoods. Such efforts can help advance Rajasthan’s development aspirations under Viksit Rajasthan 2047 and the national vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.
Abhishek Dayal/Garima Singh/Anushka Pandey