New Delhi: in a move that reflects the political emphasis of India to strengthen exports through free trade agreements (FTA), trade agreements of the country with Australia and the United Arab Emirates (SAE) are beginning to provide visible results.
Pulling an increase in the issue of preferential certificates of origin (COO) to Indian exporters during FY25 signals The growing use of customs concessions in the free trade contract.
A preferential certificate of origin is a paper that shows where the product was made so that when sending to another country within the trade agreement can get lower taxes.
According to the Ministry of the Ministry of Trade, a Mint -reviewed, preferential certificate of origin (COOS) issued in India, Australia for economic cooperation and the trade agreement (Ecta), increased to 77 234 in FY25, which meant an increase of 19.1% of 64,864 in FY24. Momentum continued to the first two months of FY26, while April and May 2025 recorded a year -on -year growth rate of 13.3% and 7.4%.
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In Australia, 5,643 Coos was released in April 2024, in April 2025 it increased to 6 395. Similarly, 6,125 Coos was released in May 2024, which increased to 6,580 in May 2025.
These certificates, which allow exporters to gain access to lower or zero duties in partner countries, have seen strong growth in India, Australia economic cooperation and business agreement (India Ecta) and India-AAe a comprehensive economic partnership agreement (IUCEPA), emphasizing deeper integration into partner markets.
Stable climb reflects the strengthening of the business relationship and the growing awareness between Indian exporters of the benefits of the agreement, especially in sectors such as textiles, leather, gems and jewelry and technical goods where concessions are actively used.
The rise was even more pronounced under the IUCAPA (UAE), where COO release jumped by 24.7%, out of 98 104 in FY24 to 122 306 in FY25. In April 2025 alone, 11,825 certificates were issued – 35.4% higher than in the same month of last year. The data may follow, with an increase of 28.3% compared to the previous year to 11 507.
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The Ministry of the Ministry of the Ministry of Commerce has credited a sharp increase in greater clarity of documentation procedures, faster timelines and increasing demand for buyers based on SAE for Indian products including food, machines, electric substances and chemicals.
During the approach of a press conference on 16 June, outgoing Trade Minister Sunil Barthwal said that the Ministry was investigating the impact of FTA, which has already been signed, especially because several new ones have been closed in recent years. He noted that there is now a greater move in ensuring a higher level of implementation from these agreements.
The wider trend is also evident at the national level, albeit at a milder pace. Throughout all FTA, India issued 720 996 preferential certificates of origin in FY25, which meant an increase of 5.3% of 684 724 in FY24. The ascending trajectory continued to the first two months of FY26, while the total COOS increased by 12.3% in April – from 61,400 in April 2024 to 68,939 in April 2025 – AO 6.7% in May increased from 59 198 in May 2024 to 63 177 in May.
However, the increase under contracts with Australia and SAE has far surpassed the national average, suggesting that these two trade agreements gain relatively stronger traction between Indian exporters.
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The numbers reflect the development in bilateral trade. India-Uae trade was $ 84.84 billion in FY24, maintaining the position of SAE as the third largest business partner in India. Exports to UAE were awarded $ 31.61 billion, while imports exceeded $ 53.23 billion. For comparison, India-Australia Trade touched $ 26.4 billion in FY24, with Indian exports increased by more than 10% to achieve $ 7.94 billion, while importing was $ 18.49 billion, dominating coal, minerals and education-related services.
Business experts believe that this trend is likely to further strengthen in the upcoming neighborhoods, especially when India closes negotiations on other FTAs with Great Britain and the EU.
In FY25, exports increased to $ 8.58 billion, while imports were $ 15.53 billion, which maintains total trade to $ 24.1 billion. Before signing the business agreement, the exports of India were $ 6.95 billion in FY23 and the import was higher to $ 19.01 billion, which this year moved the total bilateral trade to $ 25.96 billion.
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Similarly, India exports to the UAE were $ 31.61 billion and is imported to $ 53.23 billion in FY23, which reached $ 84.84 billion.
After signing the business agreement, exports increased to $ 35.63 billion and the imports were reduced to $ 48.03 billion in FY24, resulting in bilateral trade $ 83.66 billion. In FY25, the volumes of trade further expanded, with exports to increase to $ 36.64 billion and the import increased to $ 63.42 billion, which moved the total bilateral business to $ 100.06 billion.
India currently has 13 main operating agreements, including FTA, CECAS and CEPAS, with partners such as ASEAN, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand. In South Asia, he has business contracts with Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan and Afghanistan and behind the region, with Mauritius, Sae and Australia.
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