The Department of Commerce and EEPC India on Friday, 23 October 2026, jointly convened a Chintan Shivir — a high-level brainstorming conclave — in New Delhi to chart a roadmap for achieving $250 billion in engineering goods exports by 2030. Senior policymakers and industry leaders participated in multiple sessions aimed at identifying structural barriers and growth levers for India's engineering export sector.

Strong Momentum Heading into the Conclave

Rajesh Agrawal, Secretary, Department of Commerce, opened the sessions by highlighting the resilience of India's trade performance amid global headwinds. India's combined merchandise and services exports grew 14 per cent year-on-year to $476.20 billion during April–September 2026–27. Engineering exports alone crossed $70 billion in the first six months of FY2026–27, registering nearly 20 per cent growth over the same period the previous year.

Pankaj Chadha, Chairman, EEPC India, said the sector is poised for a record full-year performance. 'We are very much on track to surpass export numbers of the previous financial year. Our medium- and long-term growth outlook remains positive. Engineering exports are expected to cross $140 billion this current financial year,' he said.

Key Challenges Flagged by Industry and Government

Discussions surfaced a range of headwinds that could constrain long-term competitiveness. Participants flagged volatility in input costs, supply-chain disruptions, global overcapacity, and trade-protective measures as persistent risks. The availability of quality raw materials at competitive prices and the need for a resilient, cost-efficient supply chain were identified as foundational concerns for sustaining export growth.

Agrawal also flagged emerging non-tariff barriers, including Quality Control Orders (QCOs), sustainability-linked trade measures, and climate-related market-access requirements that Indian exporters must navigate in key markets. He stressed the need for ambitious export targets to drive growth and emphasised industry-wide collaboration to identify practical solutions.

A Bolder Ask from Within the Government

Vimal Anand, Joint Secretary, Department of Commerce, went further than the headline target, calling upon EEPC India to revisit its own ambition and aim for $300 billion in engineering exports by 2030 — $50 billion higher than the stated goal. His remarks signal that at least part of the government machinery believes the sector is capable of outperforming even the elevated benchmark set for the conclave.

Why the $250 Billion Target Matters

Engineering goods — spanning machinery, equipment, auto components, metals, and electronics — are among India's largest export categories. Reaching $250 billion by 2030 would roughly triple the sector's current annual run-rate, requiring compounded export growth of approximately 15–18 per cent each year. This comes amid global trade fragmentation, with Indian exporters looking to capitalise on supply-chain diversification away from China.

Notably, this push aligns with the Centre's broader Viksit Bharat manufacturing agenda and previous policy scaffolding such as the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme. How effectively these instruments converge with the Chintan Shivir's recommendations will determine whether the 2030 target is achievable or aspirational.

What Comes Next

The sessions are expected to feed into a formal strategy document that the Department of Commerce will use to shape sector-specific export promotion policies. Industry bodies, including EEPC India, are expected to submit consolidated recommendations, which could inform upcoming trade negotiations and incentive frameworks. Stakeholders were encouraged to adopt global best practices to strengthen India's manufacturing ecosystem and enhance engineering export potential.