Low prices alone won’t win foreign buyers, Rao Narbir tells Haryana exporters

Gurugram. Haryana’s Industries and Commerce Minister Rao Narbir Singh has asked the state’s exporters to compete on quality, technology and clean manufacturing, not just cost, if they want a bigger share of world markets.

Speaking at a state-level workshop on free trade agreements (FTAs) in Gurugram on Tuesday, the minister said success abroad now depends as much on product quality, technology and productivity as on price.

He asked industries to meet changing global standards and environmental rules, source materials responsibly and use resources carefully, while making full use of the market access India has won through its trade deals.

The minister said Haryana is strong in automobiles and auto parts, engineering, textiles and apparel, farm and food products, footwear and machinery. These sectors give the state a real chance to become a bigger part of global supply chains, he said.

What exporters were told

Nitin Kumar Yadav, Additional Secretary in the Union Commerce Department, spoke about new openings and priority sectors under India’s FTAs. Dr Tamanna Chaturvedi of ITPO explained sector-wise openings for Haryana’s exporters in different countries.

Kamble Prakash Satyawan, Deputy Director General of Foreign Trade, explained non-tariff barriers and how to deal with them. Exporters were also shown the government’s Trade Connect e-Platform.

Anand Mohan Mishra, Joint DGFT, explained export procedures and central schemes such as the Export Promotion Mission, Districts as Export Hubs and the Foreign Trade Policy.

Separate sessions were held for textiles, leather and footwear; agriculture and food processing; and engineering goods, including automobiles and auto parts. Export promotion councils and industry bodies such as AEPC, TEXPROCIL and ACMA took part. An open house let exporters raise their problems directly with officials.

Haryana exported goods worth $20.57 billion in 2025-26 and ranks sixth in the country. The state government has promised to double exports in five years.