The Districts as Export Hubs (DEH) initiative has expanded to more than 770 districts across India, strengthening the government’s focus on district-led export growth. The programme identifies products and services with global potential and connects local producers with international markets.
Districts as Export Hubs aims to support MSMEs, local producers, artisans and regional industries by improving their access to global markets. The initiative also seeks to make India’s export growth more inclusive by bringing smaller towns, rural areas and remote districts into international supply chains.
Districts as Export Hubs Focus on Local Products
The Districts as Export Hubs scheme is built around the broader One District One Product (ODOP) concept. It identifies district-specific products and services that can compete in international markets.
The initiative covers products such as GI-tagged goods, agricultural products, bamboo, handicrafts, toys and engineering products. Examples include ceramic products, tiles and potatoes from Sabarkantha and bamboo craft and cashew products from Jamtara.
The scheme does not operate as a separate financial assistance programme. Instead, it uses funding available through existing central and state government programmes to address local export requirements.
District Export Action Plans Drive the Programme
A key part of the Districts as Export Hubs initiative is the work of District Export Promotion Committees (DEPCs).
These committees prepare District Export Action Plans (DEAPs). The plans identify export-ready products and services, assess infrastructure and logistics gaps, identify bottlenecks and recommend measures to improve market access.
As of March 2026, draft DEAPs had been prepared for 590 districts, while 249 plans had been formally adopted by the respective committees.
India’s Exports Continue to Grow
India’s goods and services exports reached an all-time high of $825.25 billion in 2024-25. Exports are estimated to rise further to $863.11 billion in 2025-26.
The Districts as Export Hubs initiative aims to ensure that districts across the country can participate in this export growth. By strengthening local production and addressing infrastructure and market-access challenges, the programme seeks to create more opportunities for MSMEs and regional businesses.
DEH Expansion Supports Inclusive Export Growth
The expansion of Districts as Export Hubs to more than 770 districts marks a broader shift towards decentralising India’s export strategy.
By connecting district-level strengths with international markets, the initiative can help local products gain greater visibility overseas while supporting MSMEs, employment and regional economic development.
Source: Sarkaritel
