New Delhi, September 23, 2026: Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal held discussions with industry stakeholders on ease of doing business, Free Trade Agreement (FTA) opportunities and trade-related reforms at a workshop organised by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi.

The workshop was followed by an interactive session involving Goyal and Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jitin Prasada. Industry representatives shared concerns and suggestions on export facilitation, regulatory procedures, logistics, market access and the effective use of India's trade agreements.

Goyal outlined the government's approach to strengthening export facilitation through a combination of physical support systems and digital platforms. He said integrated Commerce and Industry offices are being envisaged in major cities to provide businesses with access to multiple government departments and agencies through a common interface, rather than requiring separate offices of individual departments in every location.

During the interaction, the Minister also asked officials to examine suggestions raised by industry representatives. The engagement was described as the first such interaction involving a regional industry association, providing businesses with an opportunity to directly discuss operational challenges and policy requirements.

One of the industry sectors represented at the workshop was roller chain and industrial components manufacturing. Representatives said recent policy measures, including Quality Control Orders (QCOs), Minimum Import Price (MIP) provisions and higher import duties, had supported expansion in the domestic industry. According to the sector, these measures contributed to a 15-fold increase in the industry, investments of around ₹500 crore and the creation of approximately 5,000 jobs.

A significant proposal discussed during the interaction was the creation of a network of around 1,000 trained local personnel to assist exporters and businesses seeking to enter international markets. The proposed personnel would have knowledge of regional languages and would be trained to provide handholding support at the district and State levels through industry chambers and regional associations.

The Minister also highlighted the proposed Trade Connect platform, which is intended to give exporters access to product-specific and HSN-code-specific information. The platform is expected to provide details on tariffs in destination markets, applicable FTA opportunities and procedures for obtaining benefits available under trade agreements.

The proposed digital platform is also expected to incorporate digital and artificial intelligence-enabled tools to help businesses identify potential export markets and assess infrastructure-related gaps. Such tools could provide exporters with more structured information while evaluating international market opportunities.

The workshop brought together representatives from industry associations, trade organisations and sector-specific bodies, along with senior officials from DPIIT and the Department of Commerce. Discussions covered measures aimed at improving the business environment, facilitating trade and helping Indian companies navigate regulatory and procedural requirements.

DPIIT officials presented updates on several government initiatives, including Startup India, Intellectual Property Rights, investment facilitation, the National Single Window System, industrial infrastructure and reforms associated with the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO).

The presentations focused on efforts to simplify regulatory procedures, rationalise compliance requirements, expand digital services and improve the delivery of approvals and government services. The objective is to reduce procedural friction for businesses while making interactions with government agencies more streamlined.

A separate session examined India's recent FTAs and trade facilitation initiatives. Industry participants were briefed on opportunities and obligations emerging from India's trade agreements, along with measures aimed at simplifying documentation and increasing the digitalisation of trade processes.

Representatives from pharmaceuticals, textiles, man-made fibres, copper, automotive and engineering, air-conditioning equipment and logistics sectors participated in the discussions. MSMEs and women entrepreneurs also raised issues related to export competitiveness, documentation, FTA utilisation, logistics costs, domestic supply chains, standards and testing infrastructure.

The discussions highlighted the need for greater awareness and practical support for businesses seeking to use India's expanding network of trade agreements. Stakeholders also emphasised the importance of predictable regulations, efficient logistics and adequate testing and standards infrastructure in improving the competitiveness of Indian products in global markets.

The workshop reflects the government's ongoing efforts to bring policy implementation closer to industry requirements while combining regulatory reforms with digital tools and on-ground exporter support. The proposed local support network and Trade Connect platform are expected to form part of this broader effort to make export-related information and assistance more accessible to businesses across India.