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Meghalaya plans to use India’s free trade agreements to take farm and craft exports global

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Meghalaya is stepping up efforts to use India’s free trade agreements (FTAs) to connect its farmers, artisans and entrepreneurs with international markets, the Commerce Ministry said after a state-level outreach programme in Shillong on 29 October 2026.

free trade agreements: Meghalaya Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar addresses the FTA outreach programme in Shillong
Meghalaya Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar addresses the FTA outreach programme in Shillong Photo: PIB (Government of India, free to use with credit).

Free trade agreements outreach in Shillong

The programme was organised by the Department of Commerce with Meghalaya’s Commerce and Industries Department and the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), to familiarise exporters with FTA provisions, export promotion schemes and procedures. Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar, who holds the commerce portfolio, named horticultural produce, spices, ginger, turmeric, pineapple, honey, bamboo, handloom and handicrafts as key export sectors. He stressed the state’s location along the Bangladesh border and the importance of the Dawki land port. He said India’s trade agreements with partners including the UAE, Australia, the United Kingdom, Oman, the European Union and New Zealand offer preferential access to economies with about USD 26.8 trillion in GDP and USD 8.2 trillion in goods imports.

Key Facts

  • Event: state-level FTA outreach, Shillong, 29 October 2026
  • Meghalaya exports: about USD 77 million
  • Export Promotion Mission outlay: Rs 25,060 crore to 2030-31
  • Buyer-seller meet (Oct 8-9): 30 buyers from 16 countries, 100+ MoUs
  • FTAs signed in five years: around seven

“A trade agreement is like a door that has been opened for us, but somebody has to walk through it.”

— Cyril V D Diengdoh, Meghalaya Commerce Secretary

Export Promotion Mission support for Meghalaya exporters

Dhar highlighted the Centre’s Export Promotion Mission, approved in November 2025 with an outlay of Rs 25,060 crore up to 2030-31, whose two sub-schemes, Niryat Protsahan and Niryat Disha, offer trade finance and market-access support. He also referred to transport assistance under the LIFT scheme and support for trade fairs. He urged exporters to get valid Importer Exporter Code (IEC) and Udyam registrations. He said the Reverse Buyer Seller Meet 2.0 on 8 and 9 October 2026 brought 30 international buyers from 16 countries together with 400 sellers and MSMEs from all 12 districts, and more than 100 MoUs were signed. The state has proposed a new Land Customs Station at Umkiang and upgrades of five others into Integrated Check Posts, and wants five Border Haats along the Bangladesh border reopened and the completed haat at Huroi in East Jaintia Hills made operational.

Turning market access into exports

Kapil Chaudhary, Joint Secretary in the Department of Commerce, said India had signed around seven FTAs in the past five years, giving access to markets that account for more than 75 per cent of global GDP. With Meghalaya’s exports at about USD 77 million, she stressed better identification of exportable products, export mapping and international logistics, and capturing shipments now routed through ports outside the state. She outlined the mission’s 11 intervention areas, including market access, transport assistance, market intelligence and overseas warehousing. “A trade agreement is like a door that has been opened for us, but somebody has to walk through it,” said Cyril V D Diengdoh, Commissioner and Secretary of the state’s Commerce and Industries Department.

Why It Matters: Small producers of ginger, turmeric, pineapple and handicrafts can earn more if they use FTA tariff benefits instead of selling only in local markets.

Also on TrendDesh: India-EU FTA: Vice-President seeks European Parliament support to sign the deal this year · Census 2027: Meghalaya Chief Secretary says every person must be counted

Source: PIB: Meghalaya seeks to leverage FTAs · Directorate General of Foreign Trade · Department of Commerce

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