ITANAGAR, 11 Jun: In a significant step towards strengthening the export ecosystem and providing international market access for local products, the Department of Trade & Commerce has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT), Kolkata for establishment of an export facilitation cell (EFC) in Itanagar.

The MoU was signed on Thursday at the civil secretariat, in the presence of Trade & Commerce Secretary Bullo Mamu, Trade & Commerce Director Sonyung Modi, IIFT Head Dr K Rangarajan, officers of the department, and consultant and EFC coordinator with states, X-Cell, IIFT, Kolkata, Sumana Das.

The EFC will serve as a dedicated institutional apparatus to support exporters, entrepreneurs, farmers, producer groups, SHGs, MSMEs and startups of Arunachal Pradesh by providing guidance on export procedures, market intelligence, product development, quality standards, trade documentation, capacity building, and market linkage opportunities.

Welcoming the faculty and representatives of the IIFT, the trade & commerce secretary emphasised that the establishment of the EFC would mark a significant step towards unlocking the state’s vast export potential. She stated that the EFC would serve as a catalyst in connecting Arunachal’s unique products with international markets by providing critical support in export readiness, market intelligence, capacity building, and trade facilitation.

The collaboration with the IIFT is expected to bring technical expertise, research support, policy inputs and capacity-building programmes for stakeholders, thereby strengthening the state’s efforts towards export promotion, entrepreneurship development, and economic growth.

The establishment of the EFC would mark a major milestone in the state government’s endeavour to promote trade, improve ease of doing business, and support the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat through enhanced export competitiveness and market integration.