The 43 Towns of Export Excellence by product
| Product group as listed | Towns |
|---|---|
| Handicrafts | Jodhpur, Jaipur, Barmer, Srinagar, Anantnag, Saharanpur, Moradabad (2023) |
| Handlooms and handicrafts | Varanasi (2023) |
| Bamboo, cane and other handicrafts | Agartala |
| Handlooms | Kanoor (Kannur), Karur, Madurai, Kekhra |
| Textiles | Bhilwara, Bhiwandi, Ahmedabad, Kolhapur |
| Apparel | Gurgaon, Noida, Faridabad (2023); see Delhi NCR |
| Hosiery | Tirupur |
| Woollen knitwear | Ludhiana |
| Woollen blanket | Panipat |
| Carpets and other textile floor coverings | Panipat (with bed linen), Bhadohi |
| Handmade carpet and dari | Mirzapur (2023); see Bhadohi and Mirzapur |
| Coir products | Alleppey, Pollachi |
| Leather products | Kanpur, Agra, Ambur |
| Glass artwares | Firozabad |
| Ceramic tiles and sanitaryware | Morbi |
| Gems and jewellery | Surat |
| Food, marine and pharmaceuticals | AEKK (Aroor, Ezhupunna, Kodanthuruthu and Kuthiathodu) and Visakhapatnam and Bhimavaram (seafood), Bhubaneswar and Thoothukudi (marine), Kollam (cashew), Indore (soya), Malihabad (horticulture), Dewas (pharmaceuticals) |
Panipat is listed twice, so the 43 listings cover 42 towns. Appendix 1B on the DGFT website still shows only the original 39; Faridabad, Mirzapur, Moradabad and Varanasi were added when the Foreign Trade Policy 2023 was announced on 31 March 2023.
A town is a TEE only for its listed product
The status attaches to one product group. Surat is a TEE for gems and jewellery, not textiles. Kolhapur is listed for textiles, not footwear. Ludhiana is listed for woollen knitwear, not for every garment made there. When a supplier says its town is a Town of Export Excellence, check that the listed product matches what you are buying.
What the status means for a buyer
DGFT describes the benefits as recognition, financial assistance under the Market Access Initiative scheme (marketing, trade fairs, capacity building and technology services), and Common Service Provider facilities under the EPCG scheme. These support the cluster. TEE status is not a quality certificate and says nothing about a particular factory. Clear To Load inspects at factories in and outside these towns to the same checklist and verdicts; see pre-shipment inspection.
Sources
- DGFT: Appendix 1B, list of Towns of Export Excellence (39 listings)
- DGFT: Foreign Trade Policy 2023 presentation, 31 Mar 2023 (Faridabad and Mirzapur added; TEE benefits)
- PIB: Foreign Trade Policy 2023 announced (Faridabad and Mirzapur added as Towns of Export Excellence)
- EPCH press release: Moradabad and Varanasi declared Towns of Export Excellence (31 Mar 2023)