Export push, free trade agreements dominate DPIIT’s UP industry meet

Lucknow: The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) on Tuesday held an industry outreach workshop in Lucknow, urging businesses to leverage free trade agreements (FTAs), focus on export-oriented manufacturing, and actively participate in govt initiatives aimed at improving ease of doing business.Bringing together representatives of major industry associations such as ASSOCHAM, FICCI, CII, PHDCCI, Indian Industries Association (IIA), DICCI and Laghu Udyog Bharti, besides state govt officials and industry stakeholders, the workshop, organised jointly by DPIIT and Invest UP, focused on improving industry outreach and strengthening stakeholder participation in the country’s industrial growth agenda.“The Centre’s Jan Vishwas reforms had helped reduce compliance burdens by removing several outdated and redundant laws,” said lead speaker and joint secretary DPIIT Jai Prakash Shivahare.“The govt was continuing efforts to create a more business-friendly environment while expanding trade partnerships to counter global uncertainties, including geopolitical disruptions and tariff-related challenges in key export markets,” he added.Highlighting the role of exports in sustaining economic growth, Shivahare said India had concluded more than nine FTAs in the past five years, covering nearly 39 countries.He urged industries to develop competitive, value-for-money products for global markets and noted that reciprocal certification mechanisms under trade agreements could help ease market access for exporters.Industry representatives used the platform to flag the need for simpler application processes under govt schemes, wider awareness campaigns, and greater support for participation in trade fairs and exhibitions.Suggestions were also made for creating a unified information platform and encouraging greater CSR support for startups.Invest UP CEO Vijay Kiran Anand said Uttar Pradesh was complementing national reform efforts through regulatory simplification and digital governance measures.He highlighted the role of Nivesh Mitra 3.0 in strengthening ease of doing business and said the state had established dedicated mechanisms for foreign investors while actively promoting its investment and industrial policies in global forums.