FM Nirmala Sitharaman addresses the EXIM Bank’s Trade Conclave 2025

Union Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs, Nirmala Sitharaman, addressed the Trade Conclave 2025, hosted by the Export-Import Bank of India (EXIM Bank) in New Delhi on 24th June 2025. 

Nirmala Sitharaman virtually inaugurated Exim Bank’s new offices in Lucknow, Indore and São Paulo, Brazil.

The EXIM Bank’s Trade Conclave was organised on the theme - ‘Building Export-led Growth for Viksit Bharat’.

Pankaj Chaudhary, Minister of State for Finance, and M. Nagaraju, Secretary, Department of Financial Services, Union Ministry of Finance, attended the event. 

Over 200 participants from the Indian industry, heads of banking/financial institutions, exporters, export promotion councils, and academia attended this event physically and virtually.

Five steps to promote exports 

Nirmala Sitharaman outlined five steps the Government of India has taken to boost exports from India.

• Investments in transport and logistics have improved supply chain efficiency and global competitiveness.
• Micro and Small Medium Enterprises( MSMEs) are being supported through Udyam registration, revamp of Credit Guarantee Schemes, TReDS, and Exim Bank’s Ubharte Sitaare Programme. 
• Enhancing access to trade finance through platforms like the International Trade Finance Service Platform of EXIM Bank and Exim Bank’s subsidiary in GIFT City, Gujarat.
• The government's policy of designating the district as an export hub has enabled exporters to operate beyond the Special Economic Zone (SEZ).
• India is negotiating a free trade Area (FTA) with many countries and regional groups to promote exports and trade from India.

About Export-Import Bank of India (EXIM BANK)

The Export-Import Bank of India (EXIM BANK) is a statutory body established under the Export-Import Bank of India Act of 1981.

Established - March 1982.

Function 

• EXIM Bank provides a line of credit to foreign governments on behalf of the Indian government to enable them to buy Indian goods and services and boost exports from India. 
• It provides Buyers' credit, a type of loan to overseas customers, so that they can import Indian goods and services. 
• Exim Bank provides pre-shipment and post-shipment credit to Indian exporters.
• It also provides advisory services to exporters.

Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra

Owner- Government of India.

Ubharte Sitaare Programme

Announced by Nirmala Sitharaman in her 2020-21 budget speech.

The Ubharte Sitaare Fund (USF) was set up jointly by the Small and Industrial Bank of India (SIDBI) and EXIM Bank in 2021.

The Ubharte Sitaare Fund has been registered as an Alternative Investment Fund (AIF) category II with the Securities Exchange Board of India (SEBI). 

Aim of the Fund 

• The funds aim to provide financial and technical support to identified Indian companies that are future champions with good export potential.
• The fund invests in newly established or existing companies in the manufacturing sectors or service sectors.
• It aims to enhance India’s export competitiveness in focused sectors and boost exports.

Also Read: India’s total export touches $824.9 billion in fiscal year 2024-25