Page 65 - CII-ARTHA

MARCH 2026

Policy Implications
Market Development
The Export Preparedness Index 2024 is not merely a
benchmarking exercise; it is a policy instrument The Index underscores persistent concentration in
designed to translate diagnostic insights into targeted export geography and destination markets. Broadening
state-level action. participation across districts and diversifying export
markets will be central to inclusive growth. As India
While national frameworks such as the Foreign Trade expands market access through trade partnerships,
Policy 2023, Production Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes, state-level systems must ensure that local enterprises
Districts as Export Hubs, and the Gati Shakti National are equipped to leverage these opportunities.
Master Plan create enabling conditions; sustained
export acceleration will depend on how effectively states Taken together, the Export Preparedness Index 2024
improve their state-level export competitiveness. reinforces that sustained export growth requires
Towards this, the Index provides state-specific coordinated progress across infrastructure, ecosystem
suggestions for four areas: development, institutional capacity, and market
integration. Systemic, state-led execution will ultimately
determine India’s export trajectory.

Infrastructure and
Ecosystem Enablement Conclusion and Way Forward

The Index highlights the importance of logistics The Export Preparedness Index 2024 reinforces a
connectivity, port access, power reliability, digital critical insight: India’s export trajectory will increasingly
infrastructure, and testing facilities in shaping export be shaped by the performance of its states. While some
outcomes. states have built robust ecosystems anchored in
infrastructure, policy clarity, and industrial scale,
At the same time, ecosystem factors such as MSME significant disparities persist.
integration, access to finance, skilling, and cluster
development materially influence preparedness levels. Reducing these gaps requires coordinated action
Bridging foundational infrastructure gaps while across infrastructure, governance, finance, and skills,
strengthening the broader export ecosystem remains supported by closer Centre–States collaboration.
essential, particularly in lagging regions. Export diversification must extend beyond a few
dominant regions to ensure balanced and sustainable
growth.
Sectoral
Prioritisation Strengthening state-level export ecosystems is
therefore not merely a competitiveness objective, but a
Export performance across states reflects varying structural requirement for India’s long-term integration
degrees of sectoral concentration. States that align export into global value chains.
strategy with local industrial strengths and comparative
advantages tend to demonstrate more consistent
outcomes. Evidence-based sectoral focus, supported by
ecosystem readiness and infrastructure capacity, can
enhance both scale and sustainability of exports.

Capacity and
Competitiveness

Governance quality, trade facilitation systems, regulatory
transparency, and institutional coordination emerge as
key determinants of preparedness. Strengthening
state-level export promotion mechanisms, improving
administrative efficiency, and enhancing firm-level
productivity and standards compliance are critical to
building durable competitiveness.

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