EICI and FIEO Convene Industry Dialogue on the Future of India’s Cross Border Trade Following Union Budget 2026 Customs Reforms
~Stakeholders discuss the implications of key customs measures, the road ahead for trade facilitation, and the growing role of express delivery services in accelerating India’s global trade ambitions~
New Delhi: The Express Industry Council of India (EICI), in collaboration with the Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO), today convened the Outreach Program on the Implementation of Policy Reforms for the Express Sector Announced in Union Budget 2026, bringing together senior leadership from the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), DGFT, DPIIT and policymakers and industry stakeholders to assess the early impact of the reforms, discuss implementation priorities and chart the next phase of India’s trade facilitation agenda.
Vivek Chaturvedi, Chairman, Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC)
Photo courtesy: ANI
The outreach programme served as a platform to inform the exporters of the policy changes introduced on the express logistics ecosystem, assess the early impact of the Budget reforms while focusing on future-ready customs processes, digital integration, cross-border e-commerce and export competitiveness for Indian businesses, particularly MSMEs.
The discussions highlighted that while the Union Budget 2026 reforms have created a strong foundation for simplifying cross-border trade, the next phase of reforms must focus on technology-enabled customs processes, risk-based inspections, paperless documentation and seamless coordination across regulatory agencies to enable easy and cost effective compliance while positioning India as a leading global trade and e-commerce hub.
Shri Vivek Chaturvedi, Chairman, Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), said, “The express sector has become a cornerstone of India’s trade competitiveness, enabling MSMEs, artisans and e-commerce businesses to seamlessly access global markets. Recognising its growing role, CBIC has operationalised a series of reforms under the Union Budget 2026-27, including the removal of the export value cap, streamlined return mechanisms and enhanced digital processes to make cross-border trade faster and more efficient. Going forward, our focus is on building a fully integrated, trust-based customs ecosystem driven by technology, risk-based facilitation and continuous industry engagement. Together, we can create a trade environment that is agile, transparent and aligned with India’s ambition of becoming a global trade hub.”
Shri Yogendra Garg, Member (Customs), Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), added, “The express courier ecosystem has evolved into a strategic enabler of India’s cross-border trade, where speed is no longer a competitive advantage but the baseline expectation. The reforms aligned with the Union Budget 2026-27 mark a structural shift towards a trust-based, technology-driven customs ecosystem that enables faster, simpler and more secure trade. As India advances towards the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047, deeper collaboration between Customs and industry will be key to building a smarter, transparent and globally competitive trade ecosystem powered by speed, scale and simplicity.”
Speaking at the event, Shri R S Subramanian, Vice Chairman, Express Industry Council of India (EICI), said, “The convergence of industry, regulators and policymakers around a shared vision of speed, transparency and trust is creating a strong foundation for the future of India’s express logistics ecosystem. The customs reforms announced in the Union Budget 2026, coupled with continued industry collaboration, present a unique opportunity to build a fully digital, compliance-driven framework that reduces transaction costs and enhances ease of doing business. As the sector evolves, EICI remains committed to partnering with Customs to shape next-generation systems that prioritise speed, scale and simplicity, enabling Indian businesses to compete more effectively in global markets.”
Industry representatives also highlighted priorities for the next phase of reforms, including enhanced automation, unified digital platforms, paperless trade processes, faster clearances through intelligent risk management and continued institutional dialogue between Government and industry.
The outreach programme reaffirmed the shared commitment of CBIC and the express logistics industry to strengthen India’s trade infrastructure, improve ease of doing business and create an enabling ecosystem that supports export-led growth, innovation and the vision of Viksit Bharat.
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