Bihar's Talent, Products Gain New Identity In Global Markets, Piyush Goyal Notes
Bihar's talent and products are gaining global market recognition.
Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Saturday said Bihar's talent and products were gaining a new identity in global markets, with India's free trade agreements (FTAs) creating greater opportunities for exporters from the state. In a post on X, Goyal said the agreements were opening access to international markets for products from Bihar's agriculture and agro-processing, textiles, leather, footwear, engineering, chemicals and pharmaceutical sectors.
Goyal's remarks came as India recorded its highest-ever exports of $863.1 billion in the 2025-26 financial year. The government has been using FTAs and other trade initiatives to diversify export destinations, expand market access and strengthen labour-intensive sectors. The strategy also seeks to create greater opportunities for Indian companies, farmers, entrepreneurs and manufacturers to compete in international markets.
Over the past five years, India has signed nine FTAs and trade agreements with partner countries and groups. These include the India-Mauritius Comprehensive Economic Cooperation and Partnership Agreement, India-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, India-Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement, India-EFTA Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement, India-Oman CEPA, India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement and India-New Zealand FTA.
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The government has said FTAs are primarily aimed at increasing bilateral trade by expanding market access and building on complementarities between trading partners. Such agreements can provide greater export opportunities for Indian businesses and farmers while supporting employment. Labour-intensive sectors such as textiles, apparel and leather goods are among those expected to benefit from preferential access to overseas markets.
The government is also pursuing export diversification through trade negotiations with major economies and targeted export promotion programmes. These efforts involve the Export Promotion Mission, Indian diplomatic missions overseas, Export Promotion Councils, industry associations and other stakeholders. The objective is to help businesses identify new markets and address challenges that can limit the flow of Indian goods abroad.
FTAs also contain provisions addressing technical barriers to trade, including greater understanding of standards, technical regulations and related measures adopted by trading partners. The government said such provisions can improve transparency and make market access more efficient for Indian exporters. It is also engaging with trading partners through bilateral, regional and multilateral mechanisms to address non-tariff barriers and strengthen opportunities for Indian products, including those originating from Bihar.
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