The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) commended the government’s RELIEF initiative for aiding exporters during global disruptions, enhancing trade resilience. CII President-designate R. Mukundan highlighted the initiative’s role in easing logistics, insurance, and cost pressures, particularly benefiting the manufacturing and chemicals sector. Mukundan, also the Managing Director & CEO of TATA Chemicals Ltd, emphasized the initiative’s significance in maintaining production continuity and export competitiveness in the face of escalating costs.
The Indian industry’s resilience amidst global uncertainties, including geopolitical tensions and supply chain disruptions, has been lauded. This resilience is attributed to the government’s strategic policies and sustained reforms that boost competitiveness, ease of doing business, and the manufacturing ecosystem. Notably, initiatives in sectors like chemicals and petrochemicals have fostered an investment-friendly environment, enabling deeper integration with global value chains.
India’s robust economic performance reflects the positive impact of policy measures and ongoing reforms on competitiveness. The country’s merchandise trade deficit reduced to $27.1 billion in February, with exports at $36.61 billion and imports at $63.71 billion. The data underscores the sector’s resilience and the potential for growth. Moreover, India’s merchandise exports for April–February 2025–26 reached $402.93 billion, showcasing a 1.84% increase from the previous year.
Amidst global tensions, including the Iran conflict affecting the Strait of Hormuz, India faces challenges in its exports to the Middle East. The Strait’s closure has impacted India’s exports of commodities like rice to the region. Despite these challenges, India’s trade figures demonstrate resilience and a positive growth trajectory, underlining the country’s evolving role in global trade dynamics.
