The Himachal Pradesh government has formally requested the central government to establish a satellite office of the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) in the Baddi-Barotiwala-Nalagarh (BBN) industrial corridor, citing a dramatic surge in exports from the state. The demand was raised by Industries Minister Harshwardhan Chauhan during a Board of Trade meeting chaired by Union Minister for Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal in New Delhi.
Chauhan highlighted that Himachal’s exports have grown from approximately Rs 500 crore in 2003-04 to Rs 20,414 crore in 2024-25, reflecting the significant expansion of the state’s industrial base and export-oriented manufacturing ecosystem. He argued that a DGFT satellite office in the BBN corridor would strengthen export promotion and encourage import substitution by providing critical support to exporters and improving the ease of doing business.
Demand for NIPER Satellite Campus
In addition to the DGFT office, Chauhan also urged the Centre to set up a satellite campus of the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), Mohali, in the upcoming Bulk Drug Park (BDP) at Una. He emphasized that such institutions enhance research capabilities and promote growth in the pharmaceutical and manufacturing sectors.
The minister noted that high logistics costs remain a major obstacle for export promotion in hilly regions like Himachal Pradesh. He pointed to the need for improved rail and transport connectivity, logistics infrastructure, and freight support mechanisms to enhance export competitiveness.
GI Products and Local Initiatives
Chauhan informed the Board that Himachal Pradesh currently has 17 Geographical Indication (GI)-tagged products, showcasing the state’s rich heritage and unique product identity. The ‘One District Three Product’ initiative has been launched to encourage local entrepreneurship, value addition, and market expansion of indigenous products.
He also stressed the urgent requirement for world-class testing, quality certification, and accreditation facilities in the state to help exporters meet international standards. Graded incentive mechanisms to support exporters and enhance product competitiveness in global markets were also highlighted.
Union Minister’s Assurance
Union Minister Piyush Goyal assured support for promoting GI-tagged products and the One District One Product (ODOP) initiative under the proposed Export Promotion Mission. He promised the Centre’s full support, handholding, and facilitation measures for promoting local products on national and international platforms, including trade fairs, exhibitions, buyer-seller meets, and export promotion events.
To strengthen connectivity for both raw materials and finished goods, Chauhan urged the Government of India to expedite the Chandigarh-Baddi rail corridor. This would make the Inland Container Depot (ICD) at Baddi fully operational, significantly reducing logistics costs and improving export competitiveness for industries in Himachal Pradesh.
Proposed Industrial Clusters
Chauhan further shared that Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) for four proposed industrial clusters at Majhol village (Vaknaghat in Solan), Gheer-Lakhanpur (Nalagarh in Solan), Ogli village (Kala Amb in Sirmaur), and Beetan-Taliwal in Una district are currently being finalized and will be submitted to the Government of India. RD Nazeem, Additional Chief Secretary (Industries), also attended the meeting.
