Experts Push Quality, Sustainability In Exports

India’s export strategy must evolve beyond expanding volumes to generate high-quality jobs, ensure environmental responsibility and foster inclusive growth, Shishir Priyadarshi, President of the Chintan Research Foundation (CRF), said on Friday.

Speaking at an event in the capital, Priyadarshi said the true test of India’s trade progress will be in “how sustainably we grow, and who benefits from that growth.”

He added that India needs a strategy that embeds long-term resilience while broadening the distribution of economic gains.

India’s total exports touched a record $824.9 billion in FY 2024–25, including $387.5 billion in services exports, highlighting the country’s expanding global trade presence.

However, experts stressed that sustaining this momentum requires greater product diversification, value addition and improvements in the ease of doing business.

In a statement, CRF said, “Also, India needs to realign its trade strategy to make exports the driving force of sustainable and inclusive growth.”

Industry leaders emphasized strengthening labour-intensive sectors, improving logistics efficiency and leveraging Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) to secure a larger share of global value chains.

Sabyasachi Ray, Executive Director of the Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC), noted that innovation will play a critical role.

“The productivity should be focused on technology, which, when harnessed with the skills, can produce modern age jewellery, making India the global leader in jewellery manufacturing,” he said.

Ray highlighted the need to support sectors such as gems and jewellery, textiles and apparel, industries with strong employment potential and essential to inclusive economic expansion.

While India has signed FTAs with partners including the UAE, Australia and the EU, experts said the benefits of these agreements hinge on improved trade facilitation, modernised logistics and targeted assistance for exporters.

Faster policy execution, streamlined customs processes and reduced transaction costs were identified as priorities to improve production efficiency.

Logistics modernisation under initiatives such as the PM Gati Shakti programme and the National Logistics Policy (NLP) was deemed crucial to lowering export costs.

According to panellists, every percentage-point reduction in logistics costs adds billions to India’s export competitiveness.

They stressed that strengthening export readiness requires coordinated reforms across finance, infrastructure, education and sustainability standards.

Deepak Bagla, Mission Director of the Atal Innovation Mission (NITI Aayog), underscored the rising convergence between innovation and trade.

“Export-led growth today is about exporting intelligence, not just goods. From services to semiconductors, India’s future lies in combining innovation with execution efficiency,” he said.

The discussion concluded with a consensus that India’s economic trajectory will depend on converting its domestic capabilities into global competitive adadvantage.

—IANS