India’s exports grew more than 15% in the first five months of fiscal year 2026-27, says Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal.

India’s merchandise exports have grown over 15 per cent in the first five months of the current fiscal year despite a challenging global trade environment, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said on Wednesday.The union minister said the growth highlights the potential for India and other BRICS economies to deepen trade in goods and services, particularly as businesses navigate geopolitical tensions, trade disruptions and uncertainty.“Despite all the turmoil the world is going through today… I am happy to share that our merchandise exports from India have grown between April and August, in the first five months of this fiscal year, by over 15 per cent,” Goyal said at the Brics Women Business Alliance (WBA) Women-Led Development Summit 2026, as quoted by PTI.Official trade data for August will be released on September 15. In the April-July period, merchandise exports rose 17.04 percent to $173.78 billion, while imports rose 19.27 percent to $292.38 billion.Three obstacles for companiesGoyal said expanding international trade would require Brics countries to address three key challenges facing businesses: access to finance, access to buyers and markets, and predictable rules for doing business.She called for greater support for women entrepreneurs and small businesses, including easier access to credit and more opportunities to participate in international trade events.“If we can commit our governments to encourage women-owned businesses to participate more in international business exhibitions, conferences, seminars, exhibitions and forums, it will actually help us participate in many more platforms than an annual Women’s Business Alliance meeting,” she said.Goyal also proposed more women-led business delegations for specific sectors among BRICS countries, giving the example of a women-led textile delegation traveling from one member country to another.Promote a common trade infrastructure for the BRICSThe minister highlighted the Jaipur Consensus, agreed at the BRICS Trade and Industry Ministers meeting last month, which includes the exploration of a common BRICS platform for international trade.He said such a platform could help companies find buyers and enter new markets, while financial intermediaries could provide support to women entrepreneurs and small businesses.Goyal also pushed for greater digital integration in trade, suggesting that BRICS members work towards a common system for electronic trade documents, including e-invoices, e-bills of lading and e-customs declarations.He said countries should also facilitate the cross-border provision of online services while respecting their respective laws.Goyal said services could also provide another important avenue to expand trade within the BRICS. With global services trade approaching $10 trillion, he said, the relatively low level of services trade within the BRICS points to significant untapped potential.Women entrepreneurs and MSMEs, she said, could play a greater role in areas such as mobility, services and the digital economy.On funding, Goyal called on the BRICS Women Business Alliance and the BRICS Business Council to ensure that a proposed study on an invoice discounting platform addresses the real needs of women exporters.He also urged governments, banks and Exim banks to consider such bills while making lending decisions and called for the Fund for the Advancement of Women proposed under the Jaipur Consensus to be turned into a concrete initiative.Goyal said closer cooperation between the BRICS economies was important at a time of increased volatility and uncertainty in global trade, while emphasizing that the bloc must continue to engage with the broader global economy.