From rice and steel to ferro-alloys and aluminium, the state is betting on free trade agreements, a new export policy and a dedicated helpdesk to take its products to the world
RAIPUR, November 12, 2026: Chhattisgarh is making a decisive push for a bigger share of global trade. At a state-level workshop in Raipur today, Commerce and Industry Minister Lakhan Lal Dewangan announced four initiatives designed to help local exporters make real use of India’s free trade agreements (FTAs).
The workshop, on “Effective Utilisation of Free Trade Agreements,” was jointly organised by the Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) and the India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO) at a hotel on VIP Road. Its goal: to show current and prospective exporters the opportunities India’s trade pacts open up, and to encourage them to look beyond domestic markets.
An ₹18,000 crore export base built on four sectors
Addressing industry representatives from across the state, Dewangan said Chhattisgarh’s potential for industrial growth is immense and that products made from its forest produce are in demand not only across India but around the world.
He said the state’s exports last year were worth around ₹18,000 crore, with rice, steel, ferro-alloys and aluminium playing the lead roles.
India has recently concluded trade agreements with the United Arab Emirates, Australia, Oman, the United Kingdom and New Zealand, he noted. To build on this, the state has notified the Chhattisgarh Export Promotion Policy 2026-30, which aims to double exports.
Four announcements aimed at exporters
To ensure FTA benefits reach businesses on the ground, the minister announced:
- Chhattisgarh FTA Accelerator: a new programme to be launched with leading academic institutions.
- State FTA Guidebook: the English edition in December 2026 and the Hindi edition in January 2027.
- Workshops in every division: FTA workshops across all divisions of the state by February 2027.
- FTA Helpdesk: guidance and support for exporters at the Directorate of Industries, starting January 15, 2027.
Earlier, Chhattisgarh State Industrial Development Corporation (CSIDC) Chairman Rajeev Agrawal spoke about the state’s industrial prospects and the need to ease its products’ access to global markets. Commerce and Industry Department Secretary Rajat Kumar Bansal and Manish Chhabra, Joint Secretary in the Union Department of Commerce, also addressed the gathering.
How FTAs work for exporters
In the technical session, Chhabra explained the concept of free trade agreements, their usefulness and the openings they create for Indian exporters, using a presentation to walk participants through how FTAs function and what trade prospects they offer.
Prabhat Malik, Director of Industries, then presented an overview of the state’s current and emerging export sectors.
Districts as export hubs
A session on the Export Promotion Mission and the plan to develop districts as export hubs was led by Dr. Praveen Kumar, Joint Director General of Foreign Trade, Regional Office, Raipur. It underlined the importance of linking district-level products and resources to export activity.
Senior Industries Department officials, industry directors from several districts and aspiring entrepreneurs attended.
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