Explained: How India is driving the global market with homegrown excellence

New Delhi:

India is emerging as a global economic powerhouse, and its sails are bolstered by remarkable achievements in the export sector. Over the past decade, the country evolved from being heavily dependent on imports and emerged as a global leader in exports across various sectors. The remarkable transformation, a direct result of the policies of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government, is reflected in India’s ability to leverage advanced technology, innovative practices and competitive manufacturing to meet global demands.

Products once synonymous with Western markets, such as smartphones, electric cars, French fries or premium coffee, are now proudly made in India and exported around the world. From daily consumables to high-tech gadgets and eco-friendly vehicles, India is no longer just a consumer but a manufacturer and supplier to the world.

‘Make in India’ iPhone story

Enabled by the Modi government’s Smartphone Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme, a major US company like Apple is not only manufacturing in India but also exporting its products to other countries. In 2024, Apple exported iPhones worth over Rs 1 lakh crore from India, marking a record-breaking achievement.

The value of India’s iPhone exports increased by 42 percent in just one year, from $9 billion in 2023 to $12.8 billion in 2024. Domestic production of iPhones also increased by about 46 percent, and local contribution (value added) to manufacturing increased by 15-20 percent.

India’s first EV export

French carmaker Citroen, which entered the Indian market in 2021, is now exporting ‘Made in India’ electric vehicles (EVs) to international markets. The company has made significant investments in India, including building a plant in Tamil Nadu. In April 2024, the company exported its first batch of ‘Citroen e-C3’ EVs to Indonesia from Kamarajar Port, showcasing India’s ability to produce high-quality electric vehicles to the world.

Citroen’s success shows how India is moving forward in the automobile sector, especially in cleaner and greener technologies. This shows that India is not only a strategic market but also a major sourcing hub for vehicles, components and mobility technologies.

‘Made-in-India’ Maruti Fronx goes global

India’s automobile industry achieved another milestone with Maruti Suzuki’s Fronx SUV, which became a hit in the Japanese market. This is the first SUV to be launched in Japan by Maruti Suzuki India, marking a proud moment for the country.

Maruti Suzuki shipped the first consignment of over 1,600 units of ‘Made-in-India’ cars to Japan in August 2024. The SUV is currently being exported to more than 70 countries across the world.

french fries exporters

In the mid-2000s, India was importing more than 5,000 tonnes of French fries—a popular American snack, annually. Imports reached 7,863 tonnes in 2010–11 (MAR–APR). However, in the last few years, India emerged as a major exporter of potato products.

In 2023-24, the country exported 135,877 tonnes of French fries, worth Rs 1,478.73 crore, to markets in Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Japan and Taiwan.

Had success with Indian coffee

India’s coffee industry has seen remarkable growth, with exports almost doubling in the last 4 years. In FY 2023-24, coffee exports are expected to reach $1.29 billion from $719.42 million in 2020-21, positioning India as the seventh largest coffee producer in the world. Indian coffee is now a favorite across international borders.