New Delhi, 14 January (H.S.): NITI Aayog released the Export Preparedness Index (EPI) 2024 on Wednesday. In the think tank's fourth edition of this index, Maharashtra secured the top position, followed by Tamil Nadu in second place and Gujarat in third.

The government research institution's report, issued on Wednesday, ranks states as follows after Maharashtra: Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Punjab. In the category of smaller states, Uttarakhand claimed the top spot, succeeded by Jammu and Kashmir, Nagaland, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, Goa, and Tripura.

This index delivers a comprehensive evaluation of export preparedness and capacity across all states and Union Territories in India.

While releasing the report, NITI Aayog CEO B.V.R. Subrahmanyam stated that as India expands its free trade and economic partnership agreements, the importance of a strong domestic base continues to grow. He explained that for states, this implies fostering an environment capable of swiftly responding to new opportunities, aligning with global standards, and cultivating a competitive ethos at the district level.

Subrahmanyam noted that in recent years, numerous states have begun strengthening their export vision through dedicated policies, institutions, and infrastructure.

The Export Preparedness Index employs a consistent, data-driven methodology, assessing factors such as export policies, business environment, infrastructure quality, and export outcomes. It furnishes an evidence-based framework to gauge the strength, stability, and inclusivity of states' and districts' export ecosystems, pinpointing structural challenges, growth opportunities, and policy interventions to elevate export competitiveness at subnational levels.

Data for the index is sourced from both state and central government origins, with each indicator assigned weightage based on its significance.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar