INDIAS FTA STRATEGY AND EXPORT GROWTH

𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐚’𝐬 𝐅𝐓𝐀 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐭𝐡 
- 𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐬: India’s strategic FTA expansion drove total combined exports to a record 𝐔𝐒𝐃 𝟖𝟔𝟑.𝟏 𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧 in FY 2025–26.
- 𝐊𝐞𝐲 𝐏𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐬:
  - 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭 𝐃𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: Recent FTAs opened global markets, expanding opportunities across goods, services, and cross-border investment flows.
  - 𝐄𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐔𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: Economic strategy focuses on converting negotiated tariff preferences into actual export participation and employment generation.
  - 𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: India maintains a balanced trade policy, using defensive mechanisms to safeguard sensitive domestic sectors and livelihood priorities.
  - 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐌𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐮𝐦: Combined exports grew by 𝟏𝟏.𝟑𝟕% year-on-year during the April–June quarter, demonstrating sustained external sector resilience.
- 𝐖𝐚𝐲 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝: Enhance FTA utilization rates through exporter awareness | Streamline non-tariff barriers and customs procedures | Strengthen domestic manufacturing competitiveness.
- 𝐕𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐞 𝐀𝐝𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: Combined exports reached 𝐔𝐒𝐃 𝟖𝟔𝟑.𝟏 𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧 in FY 2025–26, with merchandise exports contributing 𝐔𝐒𝐃 𝟒𝟒𝟏.𝟖 𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧.
- 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧: Calibrated FTA expansion combined with domestic structural reforms is essential for sustaining long-term export growth and global supply chain integration.
- 𝐊𝐞𝐲𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐬: Free Trade Agreements, market access, trade diversification, calibrated trade commitments, export momentum, FTA utilization, supply chain integration