Gandhinagar: Gujarat govt has approved the establishment of a dedicated Gujarat Export Promotion Council (GEPC) to help MSMEs, startups and entrepreneurs access international markets and strengthen the state’s export competitiveness. The council will function as a special purpose vehicle (SPV) under the industries and mines department, and provide exporters with a single institutional platform for market intelligence, business consultancy, technical assistance, marketing, certification and trade finance, govt said in a statement on Thursday.An IMD notification issued on Nov 3 said GEPC will be incorporated as a wholly state-owned, non-profit private limited company. The move follows recommendations by a task force constituted to enhance the competitiveness of Gujarat’s manufacturing sector, which identified export development as one of the three key pillars of industrial growth. In its May 2025 report, Gujarat State Institution for Transformation (GRIT) recommended the creation of a dedicated export promotion institution.GEPC will focus on helping small and medium enterprises overcome hurdles in entering overseas markets, including inadequate knowledge of foreign market requirements, export procedures, international regulations and mandatory certifications. The council will provide market-entry strategies, mentoring, handholding, and business consultancy, and facilitate participation in domestic and international trade fairs.The council will also prepare a district export promotion plan (DEPP) for each district by assessing local manufacturing capabilities, industrial specialisations, market demand and export potential. District export promotion councils will coordinate and monitor export-related activities to connect locally manufactured products with international buyers.The statement said that in the future, GEPC will develop digital trade platforms, an exporter portal, common facility centres, incubation centres, testing and certification facilities and logistics support systems. It will also facilitate access to trade finance, insurance and pre- and post-shipment financial assistance.The council will promote the adoption of artificial intelligence, blockchain, digitisation and Industry 4.0 in export processes, while encouraging green technologies and environmentally sustainable products to meet evolving international standards. The GEPC board will have between three and 15 members, with the chief secretary as its chairperson, the industries department’s ACS or principal secretary as vice-chairperson and the industries commissioner as managing director.
