Commerce Dept Holds FTA Outreach for Exporters in Jaipur

The Department of Commerce held an outreach programme titled Leveraging FTAs in Jaipur, Rajasthan, to tell exporters what India free trade agreements offer them and how to actually draw on those benefits. Joint Secretary Shri Mohit Yadav addressed the gathering, which drew exporters from several sectors along with officials of the Rajasthan government, the Directorate General of Foreign Trade, the Jaipur Special Economic Zone and the Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council.

Where exports stand

Merchandise and services exports have kept growing. For April to September of 2026-27 the cumulative figure is estimated at US$ 476.20 billion, against US$ 418.31 billion in the same months of 2025-26, an estimated rise of 13.84 per cent. The main drivers of merchandise growth in September 2026 were petroleum products, electronic goods, engineering goods, chemicals both organic and inorganic, and the basket of cotton yarn, fabrics, made-ups and handloom goods.

The gems and jewellery pitch

Joint Director General of Foreign Trade, Jaipur, Shri Md. Moin Afaque made a sector presentation on what the recently concluded agreements open up for gems and jewellery. It noted that India stands eighth among the world exporters of gems and jewellery, holding a 2.9 per cent share of a market worth about US$ 1 trillion, and that each of the new agreements grants immediate duty-free access across tariff lines. Six emerging openings were flagged: coloured gemstones; jewellery set with lab-grown diamonds; heritage Kundan-Meenakari work; smart and wearable pieces; gold jewellery that is recycled and ethically sourced; and cultured pearl jewellery.

What Rajasthan brings

Discussions turned on identifying export-ready products, reading tariff preferences and rules of origin, meeting certification norms and building links with overseas buyers. India has agreements and arrangements with partners including the UAE, Australia, the EFTA countries and the United Kingdom. The Rajasthan Economic Review 2024-25 sets out the state ambition of becoming a US$ 350 billion economy by 2029 and reaching exports of ₹1.5 lakh crore by the same year under the Rajasthan Export Promotion Policy 2024. The state budget for 2026-27 carries the vision of Viksit Rajasthan at 2047, aiming at a US$ 4.3 trillion economy by then.

The programme sought to connect firms in Jaipur, Jodhpur, Udaipur, Bhilwara and other districts with international buyers, and to help first-time exporters with documentation, standards, logistics and market intelligence. Farmer producer organisations, MSMEs, artisans and women-led enterprises were named as groups that stand to gain from tariff preferences.