This article was written during the Covid-19 pandemic and reflects the trade environment of that period. We keep it here because the underlying lesson, that disruption creates opportunity for prepared exporters, has outlasted the pandemic itself.
A crisis that opened doors
The pandemic left the whole world shaken, changing lifestyles and denting the global economy along with every national economy. Yet out of that disruption came a new direction. The Indian government's Aatma Nirbhar Bharat campaign encouraged citizens to manufacture their own products and sell them nationally and internationally, helping balance the country's imports and exports. For export businesses in particular, the period opened a genuine way forward.
How the government supported exporters
Through the pandemic, the government consistently encouraged exporters to expand, including startups, by extending policies and easing compliance. Key measures included:
- Extension for filing RoSCTL claims
- A one-year extension of the Foreign Trade Policy
- Advance authorisation and the Export Promotion Capital Goods scheme
- Extended validity of status holder certificates
- Registration-cum-membership certificate relaxations
- Extended windows for claims under the services and goods export schemes
Relaxations also covered filing claims and replies, default reporting, claim eligibility periods, declarations, discretion on shipments and reduced policy proposal processing fees.
Trends that emerged
Uncertainty pushed businesses out of their comfort zones, and the ones that explored new ground grew. The trends that carried exporters forward included value-added services and innovation, new business models, digital marketing and communication, and tailor-made lead generation.
Products in demand
With global buyers diversifying their supply chains, demand for Indian produce surged across categories:
- Fruits: mangoes, bananas, grapes, oranges
- Vegetables: onions, potatoes, tomatoes, green chillies
- Dry fruits: cashew nuts, pistachios, walnuts
- Farm and dairy: rice, dairy and processed foods, groundnuts, organic products
- Seeds: cumin, sesame, soybean
- Spices: dry split ginger, dry red chillies, turmeric
Beyond agro commodities, pharmaceuticals, iron and steel, electronics, medical instruments, auto components, organic chemicals, textiles, flowers and cereals all saw fresh opportunity.
The bigger picture
India is a land of variety, capable of producing abundance with quality. As buyers worldwide looked for dependable, innovative and long-lasting products, Indian exporters who invested in quality and innovation found themselves well placed, and greater foreign investment followed. The lesson stands: when supply chains shift, prepared exporters win.