News: The Government of India has launched the Market Access Support (MAS) Intervention under the Export Promotion Mission (EPM), a flagship initiative approved by the Union Cabinet on 12 November 2025.
About Market Access Support (MAS) Intervention
- The Market Access Support (MAS) Intervention is launched under the Export Promotion Mission (EPM), a flagship initiative approved on 12 November 2025.
- It is being implemented under the NIRYAT DISHA sub-scheme of EPM.
- Aim: It is aimed at strengthening international market access for Indian exporters, particularly MSMEs, first-time exporters and firms from priority sectors.
- Focus: The MAS Intervention focuses on improving buyer connect and enhancing India’s presence in global markets through structured and outcome-oriented market access interventions.
- Working Mechanism: Under the Market Access Support Intervention, structured financial and institutional support will be provided for activities including Buyer-Seller Meets (BSMs), participation in international trade fairs and exhibitions, Mega Reverse Buyer-Seller Meets (RBSMs) organised in India and trade delegations to priority and emerging export markets.
- Features
- A forward-looking three-to-five-year calendar of major market access events will be prepared and approved in advance, enabling exporters and organizing agencies to plan participation.
- A minimum participation of 35 per cent MSMEs has been mandated for supported events, with special prioritization being accorded to new geographies and smaller markets to encourage export diversification.
- Delegation size has been benchmarked at a minimum of 50 participants, with flexibility provided based on market conditions and strategic relevance.
- Event-level financial support ceilings and cost-sharing ratios have been rationalised, with preferential support being extended to priority sectors and markets.
- Small exporters with export turnover of up to ₹75 lakh in the preceding year will be provided partial airfare support to encourage participation by new and small exporters.
- End-to-end processes for event listing, proposal submission, approvals, participant onboarding, fund release.
- Feedbacks: Mandatory online feedback mechanisms will be instituted for exporters participating in each supported event.
- A new component for Proofs-of-Concept and Product Demonstrations to potential overseas buyers, will be notified to complement existing market access interventions.
About Export Promotion Mission (EPM)
- It is a flagship initiative announced in the Union Budget 2025–26 to strengthen India’s export competitiveness, particularly for MSMEs, first-time exporters, and labour-intensive sectors.
- The Mission will provide a comprehensive, flexible, and digitally driven framework for export promotion.
- Ministries involved: Department of Commerce, Ministry of MSME, Ministry of Finance
- Implemented by: It is jointly implemented by the Department of Commerce, Ministry of MSME and Ministry of Finance in coordination with Indian Missions abroad, Export Promotion Councils (EPCs), Commodity Boards and other industry associations.
- Implementing agency: The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) will act as the implementing agency, with all processes being managed through a dedicated digital platform integrated with existing trade systems.
- Outlay and timeline: The Scheme is launched with a total outlay of 25,060 crore for FY 2025–26 to FY 2030–31.
- Uniqueness: EPM marks a strategic shift from multiple fragmented schemes to a single, outcome-based, and adaptive mechanism that can respond swiftly to global trade challenges and evolving exporter needs.
- Sub-schemes: The Mission will operate through two integrated sub-schemes:
- NIRYAT PROTSAHAN: It focuses on improving access to affordable trade finance for MSMEs through a range of instruments such as interest subvention, export factoring, collateral guarantees, credit cards for e-commerce exporters, and credit enhancement support for diversification into new markets.
- NIRYAT DISHA: It focuses on non-financial enablers that enhance market readiness and competitiveness, including export quality and compliance support, assistance for international branding, packaging, and participation in trade fairs, export warehousing and logistics, inland transport reimbursements, and trade intelligence and capacity-building initiatives.
- EPM consolidates key export support schemes such as the Interest Equalisation Scheme (IES) and Market Access Initiative (MAI), aligning them with contemporary trade needs.
- Feature
- The Mission is designed to directly address structural challenges that constrain Indian exports, including:
- Limited and expensive trade finance access,
- High cost of compliance with international export standards,
- Inadequate export branding and fragmented market access, and
- Logistical disadvantages for exporters in interior and low-export-intensity regions.
- Priority support: Under EPM, priority support will be extended to sectors impacted by recent global tariff escalations, such as textiles, leather, gems & jewellery, engineering goods, and marine products.
- The Mission is designed to directly address structural challenges that constrain Indian exports, including:
- The Mission is expected to:
- facilitate access to affordable trade finance for MSMEs,
- enhance export readiness through compliance and certification support,
- improve market access and visibility for Indian products,
- boost exports from non-traditional districts and sectors, and
- generate employment across manufacturing, logistics, and allied services.
About Interest Equalisation Scheme (IES)
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