Gujarat launches Export Promotion Council to boost MSME, startup global reach
Synopsis
Gujarat has quietly built what could become one of India's most structured state-level export institutions. The GEPC is not just a promotion body — it comes with district-specific export plans, import-substitution mandates, IP support, and a digital infrastructure push, all under a single SPV. If executed, it could set a template for how Indian states go beyond the Centre's Foreign Trade Policy to drive their own global trade ambitions.
Key Takeaways
The Gujarat government approved the formation of the Gujarat Export Promotion Council (GEPC) via a resolution dated 3 November 2025 .
The GEPC will function as a Section 8 non-profit SPV under the Industries and Mines Department , with its office in Gandhinagar .
The council will prepare a separate District Export Promotion Plan for every district in Gujarat to identify locally exportable products.
It will offer end-to-end support to MSMEs and startups — covering trade finance, certifications, logistics, IP rights, and digital platforms.
The GRIT had recommended the institution in a May 2025 report; the board will be chaired by the Chief Secretary with the Industries Commissioner as managing director.
The GEPC is also mandated to reduce import dependence by supporting domestic alternatives in import-heavy sectors.
The Gujarat government has approved the formation of a dedicated Gujarat Export Promotion Council (GEPC) in Gandhinagar, creating a single institutional platform to help industries — particularly micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and startups — access international markets and grow the state's export footprint. A government resolution dated 3 November 2025 formally cleared the move.
What the GEPC Is and How It Will Work
The council will be structured as a special purpose vehicle (SPV) under the Industries and Mines Department, incorporated as a wholly state-owned, non-profit private limited company under Section 8 of the Companies Act, 2013, with its registered office in Gandhinagar. Its initial authorised and paid-up capital has been set at ₹1 lakh, with the entire share capital held in the name of the Governor through authorised state nominees.
The board will have between three and 15 members. The Chief Secretary will serve as chairperson and the Additional Chief Secretary, Principal Secretary or Secretary of the Industries and Mines Department as vice-chairperson. The Industries Commissioner will function as managing director, with representatives drawn from the Ports and Transport Department, Cottage and Rural Industries Department, Agriculture Department, MSME Commissionerate, Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC), iNDEXTb, and others.
Why It Was Set Up
The proposal emerged from a task force constituted to enhance the competitiveness of Gujarat's manufacturing sector, which identified export development as one of three key pillars of industrial growth. The Gujarat State Institution for Transformation (GRIT) prepared a detailed report in May 2025 recommending a dedicated export promotion institution, which was later submitted by the Industries Commissionerate and approved by the state government. This comes amid a broader national push to deepen India's merchandise export base, with states increasingly building their own institutional infrastructure to complement the Centre's Foreign Trade Policy.
Key Services and Support for Exporters
The GEPC will address a persistent gap: smaller enterprises often lack awareness of international market requirements, export procedures, regulations and mandatory certifications. To bridge this, the council will offer business consultancy, mentoring, training programmes, workshops and skill development initiatives for entrepreneurs and exporters.
It will also facilitate participation in domestic and international trade fairs, develop digital trade platforms and an exporter portal, and set up common facility centres, incubation centres, testing and certification facilities, and logistics support systems. Exporters will receive assistance with product quality testing, international certifications, trade finance, insurance, pre-shipment and post-shipment financial facilities, and supply chain management. Notably, the council will also help exporters secure intellectual property rights — including patents, trademarks and copyrights — in foreign markets, and assist with international trade disputes and non-tariff barriers.
District-Level Export Plans and Technology Push
A distinctive feature of the GEPC framework is its district-level approach. The council will prepare a separate District Export Promotion Plan for every district in Gujarat, aligned with the state's broader Export Promotion Strategy. These plans will be periodically updated after assessing district-level production capacities, industrial specialisations, market demand and export potential. District Export Promotion Councils (DEPCs), along with regional and sector-specific institutions, will coordinate and monitor export activities on the ground.
The council will also encourage adoption of emerging technologies — including artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, digitisation and Industry 4.0 — in export-related processes, and promote sustainable exports through green technologies and compliance with international environmental standards.
Reducing Import Dependence
Beyond export promotion, the GEPC has been mandated to work on reducing Gujarat's import dependence. It will identify sectors that rely heavily on imports and extend technical, financial and advisory support to manufacturers building domestic alternatives — a remit that positions it as an instrument of import substitution as much as export growth. The government also plans international branding and marketing campaigns to establish Gujarat-manufactured products as recognised global brands.
The council's establishment is expected to consolidate export promotion activities that have until now been scattered across multiple departments, connecting production capabilities across Gujarat's districts with international markets under a unified institutional framework. How quickly the GEPC can operationalise district-level plans and mobilise smaller exporters will determine whether it moves beyond institutional intent to measurable export growth.
Point of View
Not merely market existing products better. The real test is execution: India is littered with SPVs and councils that produced reports but not results. What will differentiate the GEPC is whether it can cut through the multi-department coordination challenge and actually move needle-metrics — MSME exporter count, certified exporters, and district-level trade volumes — rather than just facilitating workshops and trade fairs. The choice of a wholly state-owned, zero-profit structure keeps it insulated from commercial pressure, but also raises questions about whether it will have the agility to respond to fast-moving international market demands.
NationPress
5 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Gujarat Export Promotion Council (GEPC)?
The GEPC is a newly approved, wholly state-owned, non-profit special purpose vehicle set up by the Gujarat government to help MSMEs, startups and other industries access international markets. It was cleared via a government resolution on 3 November 2025 and will be headquartered in Gandhinagar.
Why did Gujarat set up the GEPC?
The council was recommended by the Gujarat State Institution for Transformation (GRIT) in a May 2025 report, following a task force study that identified export development as one of three key pillars of industrial growth for the state. The aim is to consolidate export-related guidance, finance, logistics and market access support under a single institution, particularly for smaller exporters who lack resources to navigate international markets independently.
Who will run the GEPC and what is its structure?
The GEPC's board will have between three and 15 members, chaired by the Chief Secretary of Gujarat. The Additional Chief Secretary or Secretary of the Industries and Mines Department will serve as vice-chairperson, and the Industries Commissioner as managing director. Representatives from multiple departments — including GIDC, iNDEXTb, the MSME Commissionerate, and the Finance Department — will also sit on the board.
How will the GEPC help MSMEs and startups specifically?
The council will provide end-to-end support covering international market identification, entry strategy, trade finance, pre- and post-shipment facilities, quality testing, international certifications, IP rights in foreign markets, and logistics. It will also run training workshops and facilitate participation in domestic and international trade fairs, targeting the common barriers smaller exporters face.
What are District Export Promotion Plans under the GEPC?
The GEPC will prepare a dedicated District Export Promotion Plan for every district in Gujarat, mapping local production capacities, industrial specialisations and export potential. These plans will be periodically updated, and District Export Promotion Councils (DEPCs) will coordinate and monitor implementation at the ground level.
