Measures to Improve MSME Sector Exports

The details of percentage share of value of exports of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) related products in India’s total exports during last three years and current year are:

   Source: DGCI&S, Kolkata, * provisional.

The Government has undertaken several initiatives to promote and diversify exports from the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) sector which include:

1. Establishment of 52 Export Facilitation Centers (EFCs) across the country with an aim to provide requisite mentoring and handholding support to MSMEs in exporting their products and services to the foreign market.
2. Establishment of  102 Enterprise Development Centers (EDCs) with the aim to build a network of entrepreneurial leaders by providing professional mentoring and handholding support services to existing as well as aspiring MSMEs with special focus on rural enterprises on continuous basis. These EDCs act as “One-stop-shop” and provide services under components including Awareness, Incubation, Enterprise Facilitation etc.
3. International Cooperation Scheme for enhancing the marketability of products and services in the MSME sector. Under the scheme, organizations are facilitated for visit /participation of MSMEs in international exhibitions /trade fairs/buyer-seller meet etc. abroad and also holding International conferences/seminars/ workshops in India, for technology infusion, exploring business opportunities, joint ventures etc.
4. A comprehensive B2B Portal-MSME Mart has been introduced, which is a one stop digital solution to all business needs of MSMEs and aims towards providing next generation services to MSMEs and make them competitive in a global market.
5. Enhance competitiveness through Cluster Development Programme for enhancing the productivity and competitiveness as well as capacity building of Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) to increase demand of domestic products in global markets.
6. A network of MSME Technology Centres (TCs) have been established which offer technological support and consultancy services to MSMEs. TCs are aligned to provide high end skill development training to provide industry ready manpower.
7. Financial support provided under International Cooperation (IC) Scheme for Technology infusion and/or up-gradation of micro, small and medium enterprises, their modernization and promotion of their exports through participation in international exhibitions/trade fairs etc.
8. Based on Mid-term Review of the FTP 2015-20 undertaken on 5^th  December, 2017, incentives for labour intensive / MSME sectors were increased.
9. Foreign Trade Policy (2015-20) extended by one year i.e. upto 31-3-2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic situation.
10. Assistance provided through several schemes to promote exports, namely, Trade Infrastructure for Export Scheme (TIES) and Market Access Initiatives (MAI) Scheme. 
11. A Central Sector Scheme –‘Transport and Marketing Assistance for Specified Agriculture Products’–for providing assistance for the international component of freight to mitigate the freight disadvantage for the export of agriculture products.
12. Remission of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products (RoDTEP) scheme and Rebate of State and Central Levies and Taxes (RoSCTL) Scheme have been launched with effect from 01.01.2021.
13. Common Digital Platform for Certificate of Origin has been launched to facilitate trade and increase FTA utilization by exporters.
14. A comprehensive “Agriculture Export Policy” to provide an impetus to agricultural exports related to agriculture, horticulture, animal husbandry, fisheries and food processing sectors, is under implementation.
15. Promoting and diversifying services exports by pursuing specific action plans for the 12 Champion Services Sectors.
16. Promoting districts as export hubs by identifying products with export potential in each district, addressing bottlenecks for exporting these products and supporting local exporters/manufacturers to generate employment in the district.
17. Active role of Indian missions abroad towards promoting India’s trade, tourism, technology and investment goals has been enhanced.
18. Package announced in light of the covid pandemic to support domestic industry through various banking and financial sector relief measures, especially for MSMEs, which constitute a major share in exports.

Certain sectors like Steel, Pharma and Chemicals have not been provided support under RoDTEP Scheme on account of budgetary considerations.

This information was given by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Smt. Anupriya Patel, in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha.