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Free-trade agreements (FTAs) and economic partnerships are opening potential global-market opportunities for Indian micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), according to Bharat Khera, Secretary of India’s Ministry of MSME. Speaking to ANI on the sidelines of the Confederation of Indian Industry’s 23rd Global MSME Business Summit in New Delhi, he said businesses will need to focus on quality and competitiveness to benefit.
What Bharat Khera said about MSMEs and FTAs
In an interview reported on October 13, 2026, Khera said FTAs and economic partnerships were unlocking opportunities for MSMEs in global markets. He identified quality and competitiveness as the priorities businesses need to address. ANI’s report republished by WebIndia123 and The Tribune’s republication carry the remarks.
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“MSMEs are expanding global markets because there are a lot of new opportunities that are getting unlocked as a result of the FTAs and economic partnerships which are being entered into,” Khera said. He added that there was “one single thing which MSMEs need to focus on, that is their quality and competitiveness.” His comment links possible market access with firms’ ability to compete, rather than suggesting that an agreement alone will bring customers or orders.
His point is that access to a potential market is not the same as a sale. An MSME still needs to offer products that meet buyers’ requirements and compete on quality and other commercial terms. Khera’s comments are a policy outlook, not evidence that exports have already grown because of the agreements.
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What the remarks do—and do not—establish
The interview does not name particular FTAs, products, sectors, tariff rates, implementation dates or rules of origin. It also provides no statistic or measured estimate of MSME export gains. It therefore cannot establish that every Indian MSME, or every product, qualifies for preferential access under an agreement.
That distinction matters for businesses interpreting a broad statement about opportunity. An agreement may be relevant to a firm only if the destination and product fall within its provisions and the business meets the conditions for claiming any preferential tariff. The remarks do not identify which companies or sectors stand to benefit, how much costs might change, or when any particular preference could apply.
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India’s Prime Minister has separately framed FTAs as a way to widen export opportunities and connect Indian firms with global value chains. That is broader government policy context, not an agreement-specific eligibility guide or proof of realized gains for MSMEs. The Prime Minister’s interview with Press Trust of India sets out that position.
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Khera’s emphasis on quality and competitiveness speaks to a firm’s ability to win and serve customers. Whether a particular agreement can reduce the cost of reaching a market is a separate question that depends on the product and the agreement’s terms. Before building an export plan around an FTA, a business should verify:
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- Product and destination coverage: Confirm that the agreement covers the destination country and the specific product being exported.
- Tariff and timing: Check the applicable tariff treatment and when it takes effect for that product. Do not assume that an announced agreement means a preference is already available.
- Rules of origin and documents: Establish whether the product meets the agreement’s origin requirements and what documentation is needed to claim any preference.
- Buyer requirements and competitiveness: Assess whether the business can meet the buyer’s quality requirements and compete commercially. Market access alone does not guarantee an order.
These checks address two separate questions: whether a product can qualify for a trade preference and whether the firm can make a competitive offer that a buyer wants. A tariff advantage, if available, does not by itself answer questions about product quality, buyer expectations or commercial viability. Firms should consult the relevant official agreement and implementation material before making decisions about eligibility or tariff treatment. Khera’s interview provides no comparison between agreements or advice on the terms of a particular one.
Who made the remarks
Khera was identified in the interview as Secretary of India’s Ministry of MSME. The Press Information Bureau announced that he assumed charge on May 1, 2026, and described him as a 1995-batch Indian Administrative Service officer of the Himachal Pradesh cadre. The PIB announcement provides that background.
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The remarks came during the CII 23rd Global MSME Business Summit 2026 in New Delhi. They offer the ministry secretary’s assessment of the potential created by FTAs and economic partnerships, while leaving agreement-level eligibility and export results to be established separately.
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Did Khera say FTAs have already increased MSME exports?
No. He said FTAs and economic partnerships are unlocking global-market opportunities. The ANI report dated October 13, 2026, provides no measured export gains or evidence that the agreements have already increased MSME exports.
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Can every Indian MSME claim FTA tariff preferences?
The interview does not establish that. Eligibility depends on the specific agreement, destination, product, applicable tariff timing, rules of origin and required documentation. Businesses should check official agreement and implementation materials.
What did Khera say MSMEs need to focus on?
He singled out quality and competitiveness. His remarks present these as business priorities for firms seeking to benefit from new opportunities, not as a guarantee of sales.
The Bottom Line
Khera described FTAs and economic partnerships as opening opportunities for Indian MSMEs, but the October 13, 2026 ANI report does not quantify export gains or establish eligibility under any specific agreement. For a business, the practical next steps are to verify product-level coverage, tariff timing and origin requirements—and to ensure its offer meets buyers’ quality and competitiveness expectations.
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