Sun Jan 05 16:07:27 UTC 2025: ## India to Boost Exports with Focus on Key Markets and Sectors

**New Delhi, January 6, 2025** – A three-day meeting commencing today will bring together senior officials from India’s commerce ministry and commercial wings of 20 Indian missions worldwide. The aim is to strategize and boost the export of goods and services. Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal will address the delegates.

The meeting will focus on six key sectors in 20 priority countries, including the US, China, and European nations, which account for a significant portion of India’s exports. Discussions will cover opportunities, challenges, non-tariff barriers, logistics, WTO matters, and the Market Access Initiative (MAI).

The push comes amidst fluctuating export figures. While October 2024 saw double-digit growth, November saw a 4.85% year-on-year contraction to $32.11 billion, resulting in a record trade deficit of $37.84 billion due to increased gold imports. Imports rose 27% to $69.95 billion. Despite this, cumulative exports from April to November increased by 2.17% to $284.31 billion, while imports rose by 8.35% to $486.73 billion, widening the trade deficit.

Commerce Secretary Sunil Barthwal and the Secretary in the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Amardeep Singh Bhatia, will also participate. The ministry is targeting a significant increase in exports of goods and services, including IT/ITeS, to these key markets.

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