Gujarat has approved the creation of the Gujarat Export Promotion Council (GEPC), a state-backed institution intended to help MSMEs, startups and entrepreneurs overcome market-entry barriers and sell to international buyers.
The council will operate as a special purpose vehicle under the industries and mines department and is being established as a wholly state-owned, non-profit private limited company, according to a government statement cited in the notification and report. Its proposed services include market intelligence, business consultancy, technical assistance, marketing, certification and trade-finance support.
The move follows recommendations from a task force formed to improve the competitiveness of Gujarat’s manufacturing sector. Export development was identified as one of three key pillars of industrial growth. The Gujarat State Institution for Transformation, or GRIT, recommended setting up a dedicated export-promotion institution in its May 2025 report.
For smaller businesses, the council is expected to address practical barriers that often arise after a product is ready for sale. These include limited knowledge of overseas market requirements, export procedures, international regulations and mandatory certifications. GEPC will provide market-entry strategies, mentoring, handholding and consultancy, while also facilitating participation in domestic and international trade fairs.
The institution will also prepare a district export promotion plan for every district. These plans will assess local manufacturing capabilities, industrial specialisations, market demand and export potential. District export promotion councils will coordinate and monitor export-related activity and connect locally manufactured products with international buyers.
The proposed structure places the council within the state’s administrative framework while giving it a separate corporate form. Its board will have between three and 15 members. The chief secretary will serve as chairperson, the additional chief secretary or principal secretary of the industries department will be vice-chairperson, and the industries commissioner will be the managing director.
The government’s plan extends beyond advisory support. GEPC is expected in the future to develop digital trade platforms and an exporter portal, along with common facility centres, incubation centres, testing and certification facilities and logistics-support systems. It will also facilitate access to trade finance, insurance and pre-shipment and post-shipment financial assistance.
The council is additionally expected to promote artificial intelligence, blockchain, digitisation and Industry 4.0 tools in export processes. The government said it would encourage green technologies and environmentally sustainable products to help businesses meet evolving international standards.
The proposed district-level approach makes the council more than a state-wide promotional body. It links export planning to the manufacturing strengths and infrastructure requirements of individual districts, although the supplied announcement does not specify the implementation schedule, budget or first set of district plans. Those details will determine how quickly the new institution moves from administrative approval to operational support for exporters.
