Gujarat Approves an Export Promotion Council for MSMEs and Startups: What It Plans to Offer

The Gujarat government has approved setting up a Gujarat Export Promotion Council (GEPC), a state-owned body meant to help industries, particularly MSMEs and startups, reach international markets. According to reports of a government resolution dated 3 November 2026, it will work as a special purpose vehicle under the Industries and Mines Department.

This is a Gujarat state body, so it is aimed at exporters and manufacturers in Gujarat and its districts. It is not a grant, and no application route has been announced yet.

What has been approved

Reports describe the council as a single institutional platform for export guidance, market access, technical assistance, finance and logistics support. It is meant to bring export promotion work under one framework and connect what Gujarat's districts produce with buyers abroad.

The background, as reported:

• A task force set up to improve the competitiveness of Gujarat's manufacturing sector named export development as one of three key pillars of industrial growth.
• The Gujarat State Institution for Transformation (GRIT) prepared a report in May 2025 recommending a dedicated export promotion institution.
• The Industries Commissionerate submitted a proposal, and the state government then approved it.

How the council is set up

• Legal form: a wholly state-owned, non-profit private limited company under Section 8 of the Companies Act, 2013.
• Registered office: Gandhinagar.
• Capital: initial authorised and paid-up capital of Rs 1 lakh, with the entire share capital held in the name of the Governor through authorised nominees of the state government.
• Funding powers: it can raise funds and take loans from banks and financial institutions under the law.
• Board: between 3 and 15 members. The Chief Secretary is chairperson, and the Industries Commissioner is managing director. The Additional Chief Secretary, Principal Secretary or Secretary of the Industries and Mines Department is vice-chairperson.
• Other board members: representatives of the Ports and Transport Department, the Cottage and Rural Industries Department, the Agriculture, Farmers Welfare and Cooperation Department, the MSME Commissionerate, Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC), iNDEXTb, the Gujarat Infrastructure Development Board and the Finance Department.

What it plans to offer

Everything below is described in the reports as planned or proposed. None of it has been reported as open for use.

Advice and handholding for smaller exporters

• Help identifying overseas markets and building entry strategies.
• Business consultancy, mentoring and handholding.
• Guidance on market intelligence, trade analytics, product development, branding and compliance with international regulations.
• Training programmes, workshops, seminars and skill development for entrepreneurs and exporters.
• Help taking part in domestic and international trade fairs and marketing programmes, through partnerships with government institutions and trade organisations.

Money, testing and logistics

• Assistance with product quality testing and international certifications.
• Trade finance, insurance, and pre-shipment and post-shipment financial facilities.
• Supply chain management support.

Infrastructure the council plans to build

• Digital trade platforms and an exporter portal.
• Common facility centres and incubation centres.
• Testing and certification facilities.
• Logistics support systems.

Wider remit

• Support for exporters seeking patents, trademarks and copyrights in foreign markets.
• Help with international trade disputes, legal issues and non-tariff barriers.
• Encouraging the use of artificial intelligence, blockchain, digitisation and Industry 4.0 in export processes.
• Promoting sustainable exports through green technologies and environmentally friendly products.
• International branding and marketing campaigns for Gujarat-manufactured products.
• Identifying sectors that depend on imports and offering technical, financial and advisory support to manufacturers building domestic alternatives.

District export plans

A major part of the council's work will be a separate District Export Promotion Plan for every district, in line with the state's Export Promotion Strategy. The plans are meant to be updated periodically after assessing each district's production capacity, industrial specialisations, market demand and export potential.

District Export Promotion Councils, along with regional and sector-specific institutions, will coordinate and monitor export activity. If you are in Gujarat, the plan for your district is likely to be where local priorities are set.

What is not known yet

The reports we reviewed are clear about the structure and the intent. They are silent on the practical parts:

• No launch date or implementation timeline has been announced.
• No budget beyond the Rs 1 lakh initial capital has been stated.
• No application route, portal or eligibility conditions for exporters have been announced.
• Board members have not been named, and no targets or official quotes were reported.

Treat the list of services as a statement of intent. Whether, when and on what terms any of it reaches a founder has not been announced.

What this means for you

If your unit is in Gujarat and you export, or want to:

• Note the name, Gujarat Export Promotion Council, and watch for an official notice from the Industries and Mines Department or the Industries Commissionerate on how to engage.
• Get your basics ready now: your product's certification needs, the markets you are considering, and any trade finance or insurance needs. The council's planned services are built around these.
• Ask your district industries office whether a District Export Promotion Plan is being prepared for your district.

If you are outside Gujarat:

• The reports describe a Gujarat state body focused on Gujarat's exporters and districts. Nothing says units elsewhere can use it, so don't plan around it.

For everyone:

• This is institutional support, not a cash grant. If a funding scheme for exporters is attached later, we will cover it once the terms are official.

We will update this page when the Gujarat government publishes details.

Cover photo: EqualStock on Unsplash