Kochi : Shri M. Nagaraju, Secretary, Department of Financial Services, Ministry of Finance, Government of India highlighted Government of India (GOI)’s new Credit Guarantee Scheme for Exporters (CGSE) to strengthen exporters’ resilience amid global trade uncertainties, at Exim Bank’s Seminar on ‘Redefining Growth: Strategies for Inclusive and Resilient Economic Development in Asia-Pacific’ in Kochi, Kerala. He outlined other targeted measures introduced by the Government of India to strengthen India’s export competitiveness, particularly for MSMEs, first-time exporters, and labour-intensive sectors.
In his keynote address, Shri Nagaraju mentioned that the GOI’s Credit Guarantee Scheme for Exporters (CGSE) provides 100% credit guarantee coverage, enabling institutions to extend additional facilities worth ₹20,000 crore to eligible exporters, including MSMEs. He emphasised that the said initiative would enable greater access to finance for small exporters and catalyse growth in labour-intensive sectors. He also outlined the recently approved Export Promotion Mission (EPM), a flagship initiative announced in the Union Budget 2025–26.
Complementing the national initiatives, Shri A.P.M. Mohammed Hanish, Principal Secretary (Industries), Government of Kerala, in his special address, highlighted Kerala’s recent achievements in governance and business reforms, including securing the top rank in Ease of Doing Business reforms. He also outlined the Kerala Export Promotion Policy 2025, which aims to transform the state into a globally competitive export hub with an ambitious target of US$20 billion in exports by 2027–28.
During the Seminar, Ms. Harsha Bangari, Managing Director, Exim Bank, underscored the growing significance of the Asia-Pacific region in global trade, highlighting the increasing importance of intra-regional trade, which now constitutes nearly half of Asia-Pacific’s total trade. She noted that amid shifting global supply chains, the region presents significant opportunities for Indian exporters to diversify markets and deepen integration. She also emphasised on the role of South-South development financing initiatives and reiterated Exim Bank’s commitment to strengthening trade and investment linkages and fostering collaboration in the Asia-Pacific Region.
On the occasion, Shri M. Nagaraju also released Exim Bank’s research publications titled “Strengthening Regional Cooperation and Trade in Asia-Pacific”, “Developing an Export Strategy for Kerala,” and “Namaste India: Unleashing its Travel and Tourism Potential,”. These research publications offer in-depth analyses and actionable insights aimed at deepening regional integration, boosting Kerala’s export capabilities, and unlocking India’s tourism potential.
The seminar witnessed participation from select leading Export Credit Agencies (ECAs) and Development Finance Institutions across the Asia-Pacific region and beyond such as Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC), Export–Import Bank of Korea, Export-Import Bank of Malaysia Berhad, Eximbank Indonesia, African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), UK Export Finance, Export Development Canada (EDC), and Vietnam Development Bank, and Asian Development Bank (ADB) alongside policymakers, industry leaders, and exporters.
Amid growing global trade disruptions and heightened policy uncertainty, the Government of India has introduced a comprehensive set of measures to strengthen the export ecosystem. Key initiatives include the Export Promotion Mission announced in the Union Budget 2025–26 with revised outlay of ₹25,060 crore, the RBI’s Trade Relief Measures Directions, 2025, which ease credit access and repayment for tariff-affected exporters, and the recently announced expanded credit guarantee scheme to support MSMEs and first-time exporters. These measures, he noted, aim to build a resilient foundation for India’s export competitiveness.
The seminar featured two panel discussions on critical themes: ‘Navigating Trade Dynamics: Balancing Protection and Opportunities in Asia-Pacific Markets’; and ‘Fostering Sustainable Investment: Unlocking Growth in Key Sectors for Inclusive Development’. These sessions brought together thought leaders and experts from the public sector, industry, academia, and multilateral institutions to share insights on building inclusive and resilient growth strategies for the region.
