Export Promotion Mission 2026: EPM Guide for Indian MSME Exporters

Published: 22 August 2026 | Last reviewed: 22 August 2026 | By Shaikh I., Export Insights Editor, World Wide Exporter

In short: The Export Promotion Mission (EPM) is a six-year, ₹25,060 crore central government scheme (FY 2025-26 to FY 2030-31) built to make Indian exports, especially from MSMEs, cheaper to finance, easier to certify, and easier to sell internationally. It runs through two arms, Niryat Protsahan (money) and Niryat Disha (everything else), across 11 operational interventions. Most eligible MSMEs still haven't claimed it.

Key Takeaways

• EPM was approved by the Union Cabinet on 12 November 2025, with the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) as the nodal implementing agency.
• It has two arms: Niryat Protsahan (~₹10,401 crore, financial support) and Niryat Disha (~₹14,659 crore, non-financial support).
• All 11 planned interventions are now operational, with the last one, Global Outreach for Branding, Labelling and Export Packaging, launching on 14 July 2026.
• Uptake is strikingly uneven: as of July 2026, only around 140 exporters had registered for collateral support against roughly 8,459 for interest subvention, the same government portal, the same eligible base.
• The government's own target through EPM is $2 trillion in exports by 2030, with an export-to-GDP ratio of 15%.
• Priority sectors include textiles, leather, gems & jewellery, engineering goods, and marine products, sectors hit hardest by recent global tariff shifts.

A quick observation from where we sit: on World Wide Exporter, we regularly see MSME sellers who have clearly invested in certifications and export-readiness, polished catalogues, ISO marks, compliance documents, but list only one or two markets they're targeting. That pattern lines up with what the uptake numbers below suggest: exporters are getting more export-ready than they are getting government-support-aware. The two problems don't cancel out unless someone closes both gaps.

Why the Export Promotion Mission Matters Right Now

India's MSME exporters have had a difficult couple of years. Tariff shocks in the US market, rising compliance demands from international buyers, and persistent working-capital gaps have made it harder for smaller exporters to compete, even as India's overall MSME export base keeps growing. The government's response has been the Export Promotion Mission, announced in the Union Budget 2025-26 and formally approved by Cabinet in November 2025.

Unlike older, fragmented schemes, EPM consolidates support into one framework. It folds in the erstwhile Interest Equalisation Scheme (which lapsed on 31 December 2024) and the Market Access Initiative, and adds several new instruments, export factoring, e-commerce credit, overseas warehousing support, and a new "Brand India" branding push, that didn't exist as unified offerings before.

Niryat Protsahan vs Niryat Disha: The Two Arms of EPM

All 11 EPM Interventions at a Glance

Note: these are pilot interventions and parameters are periodically revised through fresh DGFT trade notices. Always confirm current terms on the DGFT portal before relying on any figure for a live application.

Who Is Eligible

The baseline requirement across every intervention is a valid Importer Exporter Code (IEC). Most Niryat Protsahan credit-linked interventions additionally require Udyam (MSME) registration, and your product must fall within the notified positive list of HS codes for that specific intervention.

• MSMEs that graduate to a higher category (micro → small, small → medium) retain eligibility for the lower category's benefits for three years from reclassification.
• Export turnover is excluded when calculating MSME classification thresholds, exporting more doesn't push you out of MSME status by itself.
• Deemed exports, domestic working capital, and accounts already classified as NPA are excluded from most credit-linked interventions.
• Some interventions, FLOW, INSIGHT, and the branding push, are institution-facing. Individual exporters participate through an approved industry body, cluster, or Export Promotion Council project rather than filing directly.

Sector-Cluster Snapshot: What This Means for Your Cluster

Something we've noticed across these clusters: sellers in Tirupur and Surat tend to ask export-readiness questions (certifications, compliance, MOQs) far more than sellers in interior or newer clusters do, which tracks with LIFT's own targeting logic of prioritising low-export-intensity districts. If you're outside the traditional hubs, that gap is arguably where EPM's non-financial support matters most, not least.

How to Get Started

1. Confirm your IEC is active and your Udyam registration reflects your current MSME category.
2. Check whether your product's HS code appears on the notified positive list for the specific intervention you want, this is the single most common reason claims are rejected.
3. For credit-linked interventions, generate your Unique Identification Number (UIN) on the DGFT portal before your loan is disbursed. A UIN generated after disbursal is not accepted.
4. For TRACE (certification reimbursement), file your Intent-to-Claim before certification work begins, not after.
5. Track your applications via "My Dashboard → Submitted Applications" on the DGFT portal.

Detailed, scheme-specific procedural guidance is best confirmed directly with DGFT or a qualified EXIM consultant, since several interventions are still pilots and subject to revision through fresh trade notices.

A Few Honest Caveats

Before you treat EPM as a solved problem for your business, weigh these fairly:

• EPM's actual budget provisioning has, so far, run well behind the six-year headline figure, a reminder that scheme timelines and fund availability can shift, and it's worth checking current allocations before assuming full funding is guaranteed for the mission's later years.
• Several interventions remain in pilot mode and have already seen multiple rounds of amendment since launch. Terms you read today may change by the time you apply.
• Registered uptake so far has been low relative to the eligible exporter base, largely attributed to limited awareness rather than restrictive eligibility, according to government commentary at industry consultations.
• Support like TRACE or Interest Subvention lowers your cost of being export-ready, it does not, by itself, generate buyer demand. That's a separate problem worth solving deliberately, not assuming will follow automatically.

You've Got the Support, What Comes Next?

EPM addresses a real and important gap: the cost of financing, certifying, and branding an export-ready product. But capacity without demand doesn't move goods. An MSME that secures cheaper credit, a certification reimbursement, or Brand India recognition still needs verified international buyers actively looking for what they make.

This is where a buyer-discovery platform fits into the picture, not as a replacement for the government schemes, but as the next step after them. World Wide Exporter operates as a B2B trade discovery directory, connecting Indian MSME exporters with verified international buyers across 120+ countries. WWE does not handle payments or shipments, it's purely a discovery layer, helping export-ready businesses get found by the buyers who are actually looking for them.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Export Promotion Mission?

It's a six-year, ₹25,060 crore central government scheme approved in November 2025, designed to strengthen India's export ecosystem, particularly for MSMEs, first-time exporters, and labour-intensive sectors, through two arms: Niryat Protsahan (financial support) and Niryat Disha (non-financial support).

What is the difference between Niryat Protsahan and Niryat Disha?

Niryat Protsahan provides financial support, interest subvention, credit guarantees, and factoring support. Niryat Disha provides non-financial support, certification reimbursement, market access, overseas warehousing, freight support, and branding.

Who is eligible for EPM support?

Any exporter with a valid Importer Exporter Code can access at least some interventions. Most credit-linked support additionally requires Udyam (MSME) registration and a product HS code on the relevant positive list.

How much interest subvention can MSME exporters get under EPM?

2.75% per annum on pre- and post-shipment rupee export credit, capped at ₹50 lakh per IEC per financial year.

Is the Credit Guarantee Scheme for Exporters (CGSE) part of EPM?

No, CGSE is a related but separate scheme, administered by NCGTC through the Jansamarth Portal, distinct from EPM's own Collateral Support intervention (administered by CGTMSE).

Do I need to be a registered MSME to apply?

Not for every intervention, but most of EPM's financial support (Niryat Protsahan) requires active Udyam registration alongside a valid IEC.

Which sectors does EPM prioritise?

Textiles, leather, gems & jewellery, engineering goods, and marine products are explicitly prioritised, given the impact of recent global tariff shifts on these sectors.

What is TRACE under EPM?

TRACE (Trade Regulations, Accreditation and Compliance Enablement) reimburses testing, inspection, and certification costs for exporters, up to 95% for micro and small enterprises and 80% for medium enterprises, subject to a per-IEC annual cap.

Can an individual exporter apply for overseas warehousing support (FLOW)?

No, FLOW is institution-facing. Individual exporters participate through an approved Export Promotion Council, industry association, or cluster project rather than applying directly.

Where can I find verified international buyers once I'm export-ready?

Platforms like World Wide Exporter connect export-ready Indian MSMEs with verified international buyers across sectors including textiles, agri/processed food, engineering, gems & jewellery, and chemicals, operating strictly as a discovery and connection layer.

Conclusion

The Export Promotion Mission represents a genuine, well-funded attempt to close long-standing gaps in export finance and readiness for Indian MSMEs. Its real-world impact, though, still depends on exporters actually knowing about it, meeting its eligibility conditions carefully, and following through, not just on securing the support, but on using it to find and win international buyers. Understand what applies to your sector, verify the current terms directly with DGFT before applying, and treat the scheme as a starting point rather than an end in itself.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes and reflects publicly available government scheme details as of August 2026. Scheme terms are subject to revision by DGFT through fresh trade notices. Please verify current eligibility and terms directly on the DGFT portal or with a qualified export consultant before making financial decisions.

About the Author
Shaikh I. is the Export Insights Editor at World Wide Exporter, where they cover export policy, government schemes, and market trends relevant to Indian MSME exporters across textiles, agri/processed food, engineering, gems & jewellery, and chemicals. This article was researched using official DGFT and PIB sources as of the publish date above.