Posted On:
30 OCT 2026 8:19PM by PIB Chennai
The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), Chennai, under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India, in collaboration with Guidance Tamil Nadu, Government of Tamil Nadu, and the Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO), organised a State-Level Workshop on “Leveraging Free Trade Agreements (FTAs)” to enhance awareness of international trade opportunities and strengthen the export competitiveness of Tamil Nadu.
The workshop highlighted the significant market opportunities arising from India's nine new Free Trade Agreements, covering economies with a combined Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of approximately US$60 trillion. The discussions emphasised the importance of leveraging these agreements to expand India's global trade presence, strengthen exports and work towards the US$1 trillion export target for the current year, while contributing to the vision of a US$30 trillion Indian economy by 2047.
A total of 198 exporters representing nine sectors, including engineering, leather, gems and jewellery, and agriculture, participated in the workshop. Representatives from MSMEs, Export Promotion Councils, Chambers of Commerce and other stakeholders attended the programme.
Smt. Rajalakshmi Devraj, Additional Director General of Foreign Trade, Regional Authority, Chennai, highlighted the substantial economic opportunities created by India's nine new FTAs. She stated that these agreements provide access to international markets representing approximately US$60 trillion in combined GDP, offering significant potential for Indian exporters across various sectors.
She emphasised the importance of enhancing India's export performance and highlighted the US$1 trillion export target for the current year, alongside the long-term vision of building a US$30 trillion economy by 2047. She encouraged exporters to effectively utilise preferential market access under FTAs and leverage the Government of India's Export Promotion Mission to strengthen their international presence and competitiveness.
Placing special emphasis on agriculture, Smt. Rajalakshmi Devraj noted that nine Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) from various districts of Tamil Nadu had participated in the workshop. She highlighted the importance of enabling agricultural producers to explore international markets and benefit from emerging export opportunities.
She also observed that the participation of exporters from diverse sectors provided an opportunity for networking, exchange of experiences and identification of new business prospects.
Addressing the gathering, Shri Alex Paul Menon, Development Commissioner, MEPZ Special Economic Zone, highlighted Tamil Nadu's pioneering role in India's export sector and stressed the importance of enabling exporters to take full advantage of emerging international trade opportunities. He said that the workshop would help exporters better understand the benefits of FTAs, strengthen their competitiveness and expand their presence in global markets.
He further informed that similar outreach programmes were being planned across various districts of Tamil Nadu to create wider awareness among exporters, particularly MSMEs, and enable them to effectively utilise the benefits of Free Trade Agreements.
The valedictory session was graced by Ms. S. Keerthana, Hon'ble Minister for Industries, Investment Promotion and Commerce, Government of Tamil Nadu, and attended by senior officials from the Central and State Governments. Addressing the session, the Minister emphasised the need to create a supportive ecosystem to boost exports and encouraged women entrepreneurs to diversify their businesses into new sectors and explore emerging market opportunities.
The workshop was attended by Shri Alex Paul Menon, Development Commissioner, MEPZ Special Economic Zone; Shri K. Vivekanandan, Special Secretary to the Government, Industries, Investment Promotion and Commerce Department, Government of Tamil Nadu; Shri H. Manoj, Chief General Manager, NABARD; and Smt. Rajalakshmi Devraj, IDAS, Additional Director General of Foreign Trade, Regional Authority, Chennai.
The workshop also discussed opportunities arising from India's Free Trade Agreements with trading partners, including Australia and the United Kingdom, with a focus on enhancing market access, identifying sector-specific export opportunities and strengthening the participation of Tamil Nadu exporters in international trade.
The programme underscored the importance of effectively leveraging Free Trade Agreements and the Export Promotion Mission to accelerate export growth, strengthen Tamil Nadu's export ecosystem and contribute towards the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.
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VJ/EA/SH