DGFT Opens Trade Connect Platform to DPIIT-Recognized Start-ups

The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) issued Trade Notice 16/2026-27 on 7 August 2026, expanding eligibility for the Source from India on Trade Connect platform to include DPIIT-recognized start-ups, with a special Import Export Code (IEC) exception for qualifying entities. This notice lowers barriers to entry for India's startup ecosystem by allowing Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT)-recognized startups to register and list products on the DGFT's official trade platform without meeting certain standard IEC requirements that would normally apply. The platform, Source from India, serves as an official DGFT-operated marketplace to connect Indian exporters with international buyers, and this expansion directly channels startup-led export activity through formal trade compliance channels. Eligible DPIIT-recognized startups can now leverage the Trade Connect platform to access global markets and build export credentials from inception, accelerating their integration into India's formal export ecosystem. The IEC-based exception mechanism streamlines onboarding for startups that may not yet meet conventional company registration or exporter qualification thresholds. Startups should verify their DPIIT recognition status and IEC requirements with the DGFT to determine eligibility under this notice. This policy change represents a deliberate effort to integrate India's startup sector into structured export promotion mechanisms under DGFT foreign trade policy.