India's Districts as Export Hubs Initiative Framework
The Districts as Export Hubs (DEH) Initiative is a government framework designed to achieve inclusive export growth by transforming every district into a center of export planning. The initiative identifies products and services with global potential and connects local producers to international markets, building upon the One District One Product (ODOP) concept with a convergence-based approach that brings together Central and State schemes, institutions, and industry.
Export Performance Context
India's total exports of goods and services reached an all-time high of US$825.25 billion in 2024-25, growing further to an estimated US$863.11 billion in 2025-26. The DEH initiative addresses the historical concentration of export activity around established industrial clusters and port cities by unlocking district-level strengths in small towns, rural districts, and remote regions.
Institutional Architecture and Implementation
The Department of Commerce provides overall policy direction while the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) anchors implementation. At the State level, State Export Promotion Committees (SEPCs) guide implementation, while District Export Promotion Committees (DEPCs) operate at the district level to identify export opportunities and resolve local challenges. As of January 2026, the DEH initiative covers more than 770 districts across the country. District Export Action Plans (DEAPs) have been prepared for 590 districts as of March 2026, with 249 formally adopted by respective DEPCs.
Product Mapping and District Examples
The initiative identifies export-worthy products including GI-tagged products, agricultural clusters, toy clusters, and engineering goods. Specific product-district mappings include Sabarkantha (Gujarat) for Ceramic & Tiles and Potato; Aravalli (Gujarat) for Minerals, Agro-processing, Glass and Tiles; Jalgaon (Maharashtra) for Jalgaon Banana and Jalgaon Bharit Brinjal; Agar Malwa (Madhya Pradesh) for Orange; Baster (Chhattisgarh) for Bastar Iron Craft, Rice, Jowar, and Maize; and Jamtara (Jharkhand) for Bamboo Craft and Cashew.
Capacity Building and Ecosystem Support
DEH supports awareness and capacity building regarding international quality standards, testing facilities, packaging, branding, and certification. Partnerships with e-commerce platforms including Amazon, Shiprocket, and DHL provide MSMEs with cost-effective courier shipping alternatives. Dak Ghar Niryat Kendras offer low-cost postal export facilities for documentation, packaging, and small consignments. DGFT Regional Authorities conduct capacity building programs covering logistics planning, export procedures, packaging norms, and regulatory compliance with support from ecosystem partners including ECGC, EPCH, FIEO, Ministry of MSME, India Post, and Exim Bank.
Focused Implementation Approach
From June 1, 2026, the government adopted an outcome-oriented, focused, and phased approach covering districts across 27 States and Union Territories with support from 24 DGFT Regional Authorities and 11 partner agencies. The focus is on measurable outcomes including new exporter registrations and increasing export value through convergence of ongoing central and state schemes, leveraging GI products and MSME clusters.
Specialized Initiatives and Partnerships
DGFT has partnered with EXIM Bank to strengthen export ecosystems in six selected districts under the Grassroots Initiatives for Development (GRID) programme: Anantapur, Raipur, Solan, Tiruppur, Kanpur, and Kolhapur. Tiruppur, noted as India's knitwear capital, achieved record exports of ₹46,000 crore in FY 2025-26, with the Tiruppur Exporters Association targeting ₹1 trillion in exports by 2030, aligning with India's goal to increase textile exports from $38 billion to $100 billion by 2030.