India is emerging as a global economic superpower and its speed is growing with notable achievements in the export sector. In the last decade, the country developed due to high dependence on imports and emerged as a global leader in exports in various fields. Notable changes are reflected in India’s ability to avail the direct results of the policies of the government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, advanced technology, new 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 worldwide. From daily consumable materials to high-tech gadgets and environment-friendly vehicles, India is no longer a consumer, but a manufacturer and supplier to the world.
‘Make in India’ iPhone Story
The Modi government’s smartphone production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme is not only manufacturing in India, but also exporting its products to other countries. In 2024, Apple exported iPhone worth more than Rs 1 lakh crore from India, which is a record-spear achievement.
The price of India’s iPhone exports increased by 42 percent in only one year, which increased from $ 9 billion in 2023 to $ 12.8 billion in 2024. The domestic production of iPhone also increased by nearly 46 percent, and the local contribution to manufacturing (price promotion) increased by 15-20 percent.
India’s first EV exports
French car manufacturer Citroen, who entered the Indian market in 2021, is now exporting ‘Made in India’ electric vehicles (EV) to international markets. The company has made significant investment in India, including the construction of a plant in Tamil Nadu. In April 2024, the company exported the first batch of ‘Citroen E-C3’ EV to Indonesia from Kamarajar Port, showing India’s ability to make high quality electric vehicles for the world.
Citroen’s success shows how India is moving forward in the automobile sector, especially in clean and green technologies. It shows that India is not only a strategic market but also a major sourcing center for vehicles, components and mobility technologies.
‘Made-in-India’ Maruti Fronx Global
India’s automobile industry achieved another feat with Maruti Suzuki being a hit in the Japanese market. This is the first SUV to be launched in Japan made by Maruti Suzuki India, which is a proud moment for the country.
Maruti Suzuki sent the first batch of more than 1,600 units of ‘Made-in-India’ cars to Japan in August 2024. SUVs are currently being exported to more than 70 countries around the world.
French fries exporter
In the mid -2000s, India was importing more than 5,000 tonnes of French fries – a popular American snack – annually. Import in 2010-11 (March-April) reached 7,863 tonnes. However, over the years, India has 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, which reached the markets of Southeast Asia, Middle East, Japan and Taiwan.
Getting success with Indian coffee
India’s coffee industry has seen a significant increase, exports have almost doubled in the last 4 years. In FY 2023-24, coffee exports rose from $ 719.42 million to $ 1.29 billion in 2020-21, with India as the seventh largest coffee producers in the world. Indian coffee is now also a favorite beyond international borders.