CM Mohan Yadav pitches MP as LAC trade hub at Indore forum
Synopsis
Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav addressed LAC ambassadors and industrialists in Indore at the MP-LAC Trade Forum 2026, citing 19% export growth to Rs 3,835 crore and highlighting Jan Vishwas Adhiniyam reforms that simplified 108 compliance rules to attract investment.
Key Takeaways
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr.
Mohan Yadav hosted the MP (India)-LAC Trade & Investment Forum 2026 in Indore on 6 June 2026 .
Exports from Madhya Pradesh to Latin America and Caribbean nations grew 19 per cent in FY 2025-26 , reaching Rs 3,835 crore .
Ambassadors and industrialists from multiple LAC countries participated in the forum.
The state implemented the Jan Vishwas Adhiniyam , removing or simplifying 108 legacy compliance requirements under the Ease of Doing Business framework.
The forum is part of a wider Indian state-level push to diversify export destinations toward non-traditional LAC markets.
Follow-up MoUs and buyer-seller agreements from the forum are being watched as indicators of concrete investment outcomes.
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav on Saturday, 6 June 2026, engaged ambassadors and industrialists from Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) nations at the 'Madhya Pradesh (India)-LAC Trade & Investment Forum 2026' held in Indore, declaring the state a rising centre for investment and exports.
Posting on X, Dr. Yadav announced that exports from Madhya Pradesh to LAC countries grew by 19 per cent in financial year 2025-26, reaching Rs 3,835 crore — a figure he cited as evidence of the state's deepening global trade footprint. 'भारत में मध्यप्रदेश बना निवेश एवं निर्यात का नया केंद्र' ('Madhya Pradesh has become India's new centre for investment and exports'), he wrote.
Context
The MP-LAC Trade & Investment Forum 2026 brought together diplomats and business leaders from across Latin America and the Caribbean in Indore, the commercial capital of Madhya Pradesh. The event is part of a broader effort by the state government to diversify its export destinations beyond traditional markets in Europe and North America. Several Indian states have pursued similar outreach to LAC markets since 2022, seeking to capitalise on growing south-south trade flows.
Policy Backdrop
Dr. Yadav highlighted the state's implementation of the Jan Vishwas Adhiniyam, a regulatory reform under the Ease of Doing Business framework that has eliminated or simplified 108 legacy compliance requirements. The state-level measure draws from the central government's Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2023, which decriminalised minor business offences to reduce the compliance burden on enterprises. Madhya Pradesh's Industrial Promotion Policy 2022 had already set explicit targets for export growth and single-window clearance, providing the scaffolding for these reforms.
The regulatory simplification mirrors steps taken by Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka, which have pursued similar ease-of-doing-business reforms to attract foreign direct investment and raise export shares. Madhya Pradesh is positioning itself as a competitive alternative within this inter-state race for industrial capital.
Stakeholders and Impact
The primary beneficiaries of the forum are Madhya Pradesh-based exporters in sectors such as agriculture, pharmaceuticals, textiles, and engineering goods, who stand to gain new buyer relationships in LAC markets. For LAC businesses and their governments, the forum represents an opportunity to source competitively priced goods and explore manufacturing partnerships in a state with improving logistics infrastructure. The 19 per cent export growth, if sustained, would meaningfully expand the state's share in India's overall trade with the region.
Ambassadors attending the forum signal diplomatic backing for the trade push, which could facilitate faster resolution of non-tariff barriers and support future bilateral trade agreements between India and individual LAC nations.
What's Next
Attention will now turn to any Memoranda of Understanding or buyer-seller agreements that emerge from the Indore forum, which would give concrete shape to the investment and export commitments discussed. The next milestone for assessing the state's trade trajectory will be the release of Madhya Pradesh's annual export data for 2026-27. A sustained upward trend would strengthen the state government's case for positioning Madhya Pradesh as a preferred gateway for Indian exports to the western hemisphere.
Point of View
The Chief Minister is shifting the state's narrative from potential to performance. The Jan Vishwas Adhiniyam reform gives him a credible regulatory story to tell foreign investors — something that has become a standard differentiator in India's inter-state competition for FDI. The LAC pivot also aligns with New Delhi's broader foreign policy push to deepen south-south economic ties, giving the state government useful diplomatic tailwinds.
NationPress
5 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the MP-LAC Trade and Investment Forum 2026?
The MP-LAC Trade and Investment Forum 2026 is a bilateral trade event held in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, where Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav engaged ambassadors and industrialists from Latin American and Caribbean countries to promote exports and attract investment to the state.
How much did Madhya Pradesh's exports to Latin America grow in 2025-26?
Madhya Pradesh's exports to Latin America and Caribbean countries grew by 19 per cent in financial year 2025-26, reaching Rs 3,835 crore, according to Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav.
What is the Jan Vishwas Adhiniyam in Madhya Pradesh?
The Jan Vishwas Adhiniyam is a state-level regulatory reform under the Ease of Doing Business framework that has eliminated or simplified 108 outdated and complex compliance requirements, making it easier for businesses to operate in Madhya Pradesh.
Why is Madhya Pradesh focusing on Latin America and Caribbean trade?
Madhya Pradesh, like several other Indian states, is targeting Latin American and Caribbean markets to diversify its export base beyond traditional destinations in Europe and North America, tapping into growing south-south trade opportunities.
What happens after the Indore LAC trade forum?
The key outcomes to watch are any Memoranda of Understanding or buyer-seller agreements signed at the forum, and Madhya Pradesh's annual export data for 2026-27, which will indicate whether the trade growth momentum is sustained.
