New Delhi: The Centre for Trade and Investment Law (CTIL), under the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT), in collaboration with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), has launched a practical guidebook aimed at helping Indian micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) expand into international markets.
Titled “Going Global: A Practical Guide for Indian MSMEs”, the publication serves as a one-stop resource to help businesses identify export opportunities, understand market access requirements, comply with international standards, leverage trade intelligence tools and strengthen export readiness.
The guidebook addresses key challenges faced by MSMEs, including limited access to market information, identifying overseas buyers, meeting global certification standards and maintaining price competitiveness. It also provides guidance on market research, export planning and the use of freely available tools to reduce costs and improve decision-making.
A panel discussion held after the launch explored ways for Indian MSMEs to expand exports by effectively utilising India’s Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), including preferential Rules of Origin provisions. The discussion also focused on identifying promising export destinations, complying with international quality standards and enhancing competitiveness through diversification and value addition.
The event featured a presentation on the Trade Remedies Advisory Cell (TRAC), which assists domestic industries by creating awareness about trade remedy laws and offering guidance on addressing unfair trade practices and import surges.
The programme brought together policymakers, industry leaders, trade experts and MSME stakeholders to discuss strategies for improving the global competitiveness of Indian businesses. Senior officials from the Department of Commerce, CII, CTIL and the Federation of Indian Micro and Small & Medium Enterprises (FISME) participated in the event.
The session concluded with an interactive discussion on export preparedness, standards compliance and market access, with speakers emphasising the importance of collaboration, trade exhibitions, institutional support and greater integration of Indian MSMEs into global value chains.
