GoI Launches Rs 4,531 Crore ‘Market Access Support’ Scheme for Exporters

On 31 December 2025, the Government of India (GoI) launched the Market Access Support (MAS) Scheme with a total outlay of Rs 4,531 crore for a six-year period from Financial Year 2025-26 (FY26) to FY31, under the Rs 25,060 crore Export Promotion Mission (EPM) which was approved by the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi in November 2025.

• The scheme aims to strengthen global market access for Indian exporters, with a strong focus on Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and first-time exporters.

About Market Access Support (MAS) Scheme:

Framework: MAS will be implemented under Niryat Disha (Non-Financial Enablers) , sub-scheme of the EPM, provides structured financial and institutional support to improve export competitiveness and global visibility.

Focus: The scheme addresses long-term market access challenges by diversifying products and destinations, especially in Latin America and Africa.

Implementers: The scheme is implemented by the Department of Commerce(DoC) under Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoC&I), Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MoMSME), and Ministry of Finance (MoF) in coordination with Indian Missions abroad, Export Promotion Councils (EPCs), Commodity Boards, and Industry Associations.

Budget Allocation: 

• Outlay: The scheme has a total allocation of Rs.4,531 crore for FY26–FY31, with Rs. 500 crore earmarked for FY26, and funds will be released in phases based on approved activities and utilisation.
• Arrears & Support: Around Rs. 330 crore of pending arrears from the previous Market Access Initiative (MAI), will be cleared, and small exporters with turnover up to Rs. 75 lakh will receive partial airfare support.

Target Beneficiaries: The scheme targets first-time exporters, MSMEs, and firms in priority sectors like agriculture, leather, handlooms, handicrafts, toys, textiles, gems & jewellery, and services including telecom, defence, tourism, medical, logistics, legal, and environment, with focus on emerging or sunrise sectors.

Supported Activities: The scheme provides financial support for participation in international trade fairs, exhibitions, Buyer-Seller Meets (BSMs), Mega Reverse BSMs (RBSMs), trade delegations to priority and emerging markets, and Proofs-of-Concept or product demonstrations in technology-intensive and sunrise sectors.

Cap on Financial Assistance: Assistance under the scheme has been capped at Rs 5 crore per event for BSMs, while support for RBSMs can extend up to Rs 10 crore. Trade delegations will be eligible for assistance of up to Rs 5 crore per event.

• For each approved activity, the GoI will fund 60% of the total cost, with the remaining 40% contributed by the private sector. In priority sectors and focus areas, the government’s share may be enhanced to as much as 80%.

Participation & Monitoring:

• MSME & Delegations: A minimum of 35% MSME participation is mandatory, with trade delegations sized at 50 or more participants, prioritising new geographies and emerging markets.
• Planning: A rolling 3–5-year event calendar will guide planning, and the trade.gov.in portal will manage proposals, approvals, fund release, and participant onboarding.
• Monitoring: Exporter performance will be tracked through mandatory online feedback and a dedicated performance index covering buyer quality, business leads, and market relevance.

About Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MoMSME):
Union Minister– Jitan Ram Manjhi (Constituency – Gaya, Bihar)
Minister of State (MoS)- Shobha Karandlaje (Constituency – Bangalore North, Karnataka)