Mangaluru: Dakshina Kannada district has been declared an Export Hub under the Union government’s Districts as Export Hubs (DEH) initiative, with marine products and cashew identified as its key export commodities. The move is expected to strengthen the district’s export ecosystem, improve logistics infrastructure and create fresh opportunities for local industries to expand their presence in global markets.
The announcement was made by Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jitin Prasada, while NABARD official Sangeetha Kartha stated that the supporting arrangements for implementing the initiative would be put in place during the next financial year.
The recognition is part of the Centre’s strategy to promote balanced and sustainable economic development by leveraging the unique strengths of individual districts across the country. Officials believe the initiative will encourage innovation, value addition and market expansion in Dakshina Kannada’s marine products and cashew sectors while boosting exports from the region.
Focus on strengthening exports
Under the Districts as Export Hubs initiative, the Union government aims to identify and promote products with strong export potential from every district. For Dakshina Kannada, marine products and cashew have been recognised as sectors capable of driving export-led growth.
The declaration is expected to help local exporters improve their competitiveness by addressing infrastructure and logistics-related challenges that often affect international trade. Better coordination among stakeholders is also expected to improve the overall efficiency of the export ecosystem.
Apart from increasing exports, the initiative seeks to create additional employment opportunities, encourage investment and support long-term economic growth in the district.
District Export Action Plan to be prepared
As part of the initiative, a District Export Action Plan (DEAP) will be prepared specifically for Dakshina Kannada.
The plan will focus on improving connectivity to the New Mangalore Port, expanding warehousing facilities and developing supporting infrastructure required for the identified export commodities.
Authorities will also identify district-specific bottlenecks related to logistics, transportation, storage and connectivity. These issues will be addressed through a structured approach aimed at reducing delays, improving freight movement and strengthening supply-chain resilience.
The government also intends to improve logistics efficiency and minimise uncertainties affecting international shipments.
Export promotion committee to coordinate efforts
To ensure effective implementation of the initiative, a District Export Promotion Committee will be constituted.
The committee will coordinate among district authorities, exporters, port authorities, customs officials, logistics agencies and the concerned state and central government departments.
The objective is to streamline export-related processes, resolve operational issues and improve coordination among all stakeholders involved in the export supply chain.
Officials believe such institutional coordination will help businesses access government support more efficiently while enabling quicker resolution of logistics-related challenges.
Measures to support MSMEs and exporters
The Centre has outlined several initiatives under the DEH programme to strengthen export infrastructure and improve ease of doing business for exporters, particularly micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
The District Export Action Plan will address issues related to connectivity, warehousing, packaging and testing infrastructure.
The initiative also envisages close coordination among state and district export promotion committees, customs authorities, logistics providers, MSMEs and industry associations to overcome logistical constraints.
To make exports more accessible for smaller businesses, the government has partnered with Amazon, Shiprocket and DHL to provide cost-effective courier and small-consignment shipping solutions.
Postal export facilities will also be expanded to support export documentation, packaging and parcel dispatch. Alternative routing arrangements are planned to minimise disruptions during logistics-related emergencies.
In addition, regional offices of the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), along with district administrations, will organise awareness programmes on export procedures, logistics planning, packaging standards and compliance requirements.
Officials welcome the initiative
Welcoming the development, Narwade Vinayak Karbhari, Chief Executive Officer of the Dakshina Kannada Zilla Panchayat, said coordinated efforts would be crucial for the success of the initiative.
He said that under the Centre’s Districts as Export Hubs programme, Dakshina Kannada had been declared an export hub with marine products and cashew identified as the district’s potential export commodities.
He emphasised that close coordination among exporters, port authorities, customs officials, logistics agencies and the concerned state and central government departments would be essential for strengthening the export ecosystem. He also expressed confidence that the export sector would receive greater support in the coming years.
Boost for the district’s economy
The Export Hub status is expected to provide a significant boost to Dakshina Kannada’s economy by improving infrastructure, promoting value-added exports and helping local enterprises reach international markets more effectively.
With marine products and cashew already playing a key role in the district’s economy, the initiative is expected to enhance global competitiveness while creating new opportunities for businesses, exporters and allied industries in the region.
Dakshina Kannada declared export hub for marine products, cashew
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