EPM 2025: India’s ₹25,060-Crore Export Mission Puts Maritime Sector at the Centre of Economic Transformation — But Will Local Communities Benefit?

Maritime News, Delhi, India: India’s ambitious Export Promotion Mission (EPM), backed by a massive ₹25,060-crore commitment over six years, marks one of the most significant structural reforms undertaken to strengthen India’s export competitiveness. But as India pushes forward with a unified, digitally driven export ecosystem—from MSME clusters to coastal logistics hubs—a critical question rises:

Will the benefits flow to local communities, or will corporate-scale exporters be the primary winners?

EPM represents a landmark consolidation of India’s export-support architecture, replacing fragmented schemes with a unified, outcome-based mechanism managed by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT). It is set to influence everything—from global trade connectivity to inland logistics infrastructure and the everyday lives of fishermen, coastal workers, port communities and MSMEs.

For the maritime sector, the Mission signals a strategic prioritisation: ports, waterways, and coastal logistics are now formally recognised as the backbone of India’s export engine.

A Unified Export Framework Anchored in Maritime Connectivity

India’s export ecosystem has long struggled with dispersed incentives, inconsistent compliance support, and high logistics costs—especially for exporters located far from major ports.
The EPM attempts to solve this through two core sub-schemes:

Niryat Protsahan — Trade Finance & Credit Support

• Interest subvention on export credit
• Credit guarantees
• Export factoring & deep-tier financing
• E-commerce export credit cards
• Risk support for first-time exporters

Niryat Disha — Market-Readiness & Global Competitiveness

• Quality testing, certification & compliance
• Branding, packaging & marketing assistance
• Export warehousing & logistics support
• Inland transport reimbursements
• District-level export cells for low-export regions

This architecture recognises that India cannot grow exports without transforming its maritime ecosystem—from major ports like JNPA and Cochin to minor ports in Konkan, Saurashtra, Odisha, Andhra, and Tamil Nadu.

Maritime Sector: The Biggest Beneficiary of EPM 2025

Why the maritime industry stands to gain massively:

1. Ports Handle 95% of India’s Trade by Volume

EPM strengthens:

• port-side logistics
• cold chains
• container movement
• inland waterway linkages
• export-oriented warehousing

2. Focus on Tariff-Impacted Sectors Directly Connected to Ports

These include:

• marine products
• gems & jewellery (air + sea logistics)
• engineering goods
• textiles & leather
• food processing exports

3. Export Support for Non-Traditional Districts Will Drive Cargo to Minor Ports

Konkan, Saurashtra, Odisha and Andhra—regions with dozens of underutilised minor ports—may experience a revival as district-level exporters enter global markets.

4. RBI’s New Liquidity Measures Will Prevent Export Disruptions

Longer realisation windows, moratoriums, and credit facility extensions will:

• keep exporters afloat
• reduce MSME bankruptcies
• stabilise port cargo flows

EPM, combined with RBI’s relief measures, lays the foundation for an export-led maritime resurgence.

But Will Local Communities Actually Benefit?

While the national policy direction is clear, local impact remains uncertain.
The Maritime News analysis reveals mixed outcomes across communities.

Coastal Communities and Fishermen: Gains Possible, Risks Real

Potential Benefits

• New cold-chain and testing facilities
• Better access to export markets for marine products
• More jobs in logistics, warehousing and port services
• Lower inland transport cost for coastal districts

Major Risks

• Land acquisition for port logistics clusters
• Reduction in access to fishing jetties
• Environmental stress from expanded port operations
• Displacement due to industrial development
• Corporate consolidation pushing small fish processors out

Unless EPM mandates:

• exclusive fishing zones
• livelihood protections
• community equity participation
• co-management of coastal assets

fishing communities may not see meaningful benefit.

Will MSMEs & District Exporters Benefit?

Yes — if implemented well

• Credit guarantee scheme of ₹20,000 crore
• Testing & certification support
• Cluster-based training
• Market readiness programmes
• Branding & packaging help

These interventions could finally give MSMEs near ports and inland regions a competitive edge.

But…

If large export houses dominate logistics corridors, small producers may still lack direct access to export markets.

Workers & Port-Area Labour: New Opportunities, New Threats

Opportunity

• Growth in CFS, warehouses, shipping services
• Digital logistics jobs
• Cold-chain technicians
• Inland waterway cargo handling

Threat

Automation and digitalisation under PCS, TOS and green port systems may reduce manual jobs.

Without:

• retraining programmes
• local hiring quotas
• wage protections

workers may not truly benefit.

Minor Port Villages: Development or Displacement?

Regions like Jaigad, Dighi, Kulpi, Gopalpur, and Karaikal face mixed prospects.

Possible Benefits

• Better roads and rail
• Higher land value
• Export-linked cluster development
• New ancillary industries

But Historically…

Minor port development often results in:

• land alienation
• reduced access to creeks and shorelines
• pollution from bulk cargo
• weakened traditional economies

Thus, strong governance is essential to ensure equity.

What Must the Government and Maritime Industry Do?

1. Mandate Local Stakeholder Councils

Include:

• fishermen groups
• FPOs
• APMCs
• NGOs
• Panchayat bodies

2. Provide Equity Stake to Affected Communities

Like global best practices in Canada & Norway.

3. Guarantee Employment to Displaced Families

One job per displaced household.

4. Make Gram Sabha Consent Mandatory

For any port expansion or logistics hub.

5. Publish Environmental & Social Impact Reports Publicly

Prevent opaque decision-making.

6. Build fishing harbours with every port expansion

A rule, not a request.

Final Verdict: A Transformative Policy—If People Are Not Left Behind

The Export Promotion Mission is one of the most ambitious reform packages in India’s export history.
It can:

• reduce logistics costs,
• expand maritime capacity,
• strengthen minor ports,
• empower MSMEs,
• diversify exports,
• create jobs,
• and support India’s Viksit Bharat 2047 vision.

BUT — for coastal communities, fishermen, farmers, and port workers, benefits are not automatic.

India must ensure that maritime development does not deepen inequalities, and that the backbone of India’s coastal economy—the people—remain central to policy.

If implemented with equity, transparency, and grassroots participation, EPM can be the turning point that makes India a resilient, inclusive, maritime-powered export nation.

If not, it risks becoming yet another top-down reform in which corporates win big and coastal communities are left behind.