In a move aimed at enhancing its understanding of export and import patterns, India has initiated a process to capture comprehensive country-wise and commodity-wise trade data conducted by micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). The Ministry of MSMEs plans to acquire detailed data on exports undertaken by these firms, a significant step forward from the current practice of obtaining broad data. MSMEs account for approximately 40% of India’s total goods exports, underscoring the importance of accurate and granular information.
Presently, the Udyam portal, which hosts around 25 million registered MSMEs, maintains a linkage with ICEGATE. However, this integration will be strengthened to obtain more specific country-wise and commodity-wise data, as the current system only provides general export figures. An official familiar with the development stressed the significance of this upgrade, particularly for sectors heavily reliant on MSME exports such as ready-made garments, leather products, processed foods, and engineering goods. In fact, in sectors like sports goods, MSMEs account for almost the entirety of outbound shipments.
Currently, the Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics (DGCI&S) provides information on imports and exports, but it does not offer specific data on the MSME sector. Anil Bhardwaj, Secretary General of the Federation of Indian Micro and Small & Medium Enterprises (FISME), emphasized that having product-wise data would enable the industry to negotiate better terms in India’s free trade agreements. This comprehensive data will also facilitate improved market access, policy-making, and overall competitiveness. The inclusion of separate chapters on MSMEs in several of India’s free trade agreements further underscores the importance of this initiative.
