Marketing help
Districts as Export Hubs
Districts as Export Hubs
Every district has an Export Promotion Committee and an export action plan that names its key products — a local door for help and contacts.
Current status
In force under Chapter 3 of FTP 2023; supported under EPM’s INSIGHT intervention (PIB, 20 Feb 2026).
dgft.gov.in ↗What you get
Outreach, training and buyer-seller meets arranged locally; help with bottlenecks such as testing, logistics and registration. Under EPM, the INSIGHT intervention funds district and cluster facilitation.
Who can use it
Any producer or exporter in the district, especially of the products named in the District Export Action Plan.
How to claim it
- Read your district’s Export Action Plan (on the DGFT site or from the District Industries Centre).
- Contact the District Export Promotion Committee, chaired by the Collector/DM, through the District Industries Centre.
- Join DGFT’s Niryat Bandhu outreach sessions held for the district.
Watch out for
- This is a facilitation programme, not a cash scheme by itself.
Products it applies to
Free, with conditionsFarm produceBasmati riceIndia’s top agri export by value. Free to export, but every contract must be registered with APEDA first.HS1006.30Exports 2025-26US$ 5.67 bn ↓4.6%
Free, with conditionsFarm produceNon-basmati riceHigh-volume staple sold mainly to Africa and Bangladesh. Export reopened in 2024–25, but contracts must now be registered with APEDA.HS1006.30Exports 2025-26US$ 5.86 bn ↓10.2%
Free to exportFarm produceSpicesWhole, ground and blended spices. Spices Board registration (CRES) is compulsory; residue and ethylene oxide tests keep buyers.HS0904–0910Exports 2025-26US$ 3.12 bn ↓5.1%
Free to exportFarm produceChilliIndia’s largest spice export by volume. Dried red chilli goes to China, Thailand and Bangladesh; aflatoxin is the key test.HS0904.21Exports 2025-26US$ 1.1 bn ↓12.9%
More schemes
All schemes →- Marketing helpMAI / MASMarket Access Initiative (now Market Access Support under EPM)Support to take part in overseas trade fairs, buyer-seller meets, reverse buyer-seller meets in India, and trade delegations.Read →
- Tax refundRoDTEPRemission of Duties and Taxes on Exported ProductsRefunds hidden taxes (fuel, electricity duty, mandi tax, stamp duty and the like) that are not refunded any other way, as a percentage of FOB value.Read →
- Tax refundRoSCTLRebate of State and Central Taxes and LeviesThe RoDTEP-like rebate for apparel, garments and made-ups (HS Chapters 61, 62 and 63). These items get RoSCTL instead of RoDTEP.Read →