FIEO convenes exporters for a candid dialogue with Amitabh Kant on India’s export future 

In an exclusive conversation at ITC Sonar Bangla, Amitabh Kant discusses manufacturing scale, global trade shifts, and the role of exporters in India’s growth journey

The Federation of Indian Export Organisations, Eastern Region, convened exporters, industry leaders, and policymakers in Kolkata for an exclusive and candid dialogue with Amitabh Kant, focusing on India’s export strategy amid a rapidly shifting global economic environment. The interaction was held on December 14 at ITC Sonar Bangla, creating a platform for detailed discussion on trade, manufacturing, and competitiveness.
The session was hosted by Abhishek Poddar, Regional Chairman, Federation of Indian Export Organisations Eastern Region. The conversation addressed a range of structural, geopolitical, and policy challenges confronting Indian exporters, including rising protectionism, tariff barriers, global supply chain realignments, and the need for reforms driven by competitiveness rather than cost alone.

Discussions centred on how India must recalibrate its export approach in a fragmented global trade environment shaped by localisation pressures, carbon linked trade mechanisms, and changing geopolitical alignments. With global buyers reassessing supply chains beyond China, the dialogue examined the steps required for India to scale manufacturing capacity, move up global value chains, and strengthen long term export resilience.
Speaking during the interaction, Amitabh Kant underlined that traditional advantages based on low cost exports are increasingly being replaced by geopolitical considerations and technology driven productivity. He noted that while exporting at the lowest cost may no longer be viable in the current global context, the availability of advanced technologies presents a significant opportunity for growth and efficiency. Emphasising the importance of exports in India’s growth trajectory, he highlighted the critical role played by FIEO members in driving this transformation.

Kant also stressed the need for a substantial expansion in manufacturing, stating that manufacturing output would need to grow many times over to align with the Prime Minister’s long term economic vision. He pointed to the importance of accelerating reforms, improving implementation at the ground level, and reducing compliance burdens, particularly for micro, small, and medium enterprises, to unlock export growth across sectors, including labour intensive industries.
Drawing from his experience in shaping India’s global economic narrative, Kant spoke about the importance of credibility, scale, and consistency in positioning “Made in India” as a trusted global export brand. He noted that sustained policy clarity and execution are essential for India to capture opportunities emerging from global supply chain shifts.

As part of the programme, Amitabh Kant was felicitated by Abhishek Poddar in recognition of his contribution to India’s economic and policy framework. The session concluded with an interactive question and answer segment with the audience, followed by one to one media interactions with the speakers.

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