The Union government has designated Dakshina Kannada as a District Export Hub under the Districts as Export Hubs (DEH) initiative, with seafood and cashew added as potential export products, according to Jitin Prasada, the Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industry.
To an unstarred question by Captain Brijesh Chowta, Dakshina Kannada MP, in the Lok Sabha on December 2, the Minister said that the recognition underscores the district’s strong export potential and aligns with ongoing efforts to promote balanced and sustainable economic growth across the country. The identified focus areas under this initiative are expected to further strengthen local industry, enhance value-added activities, and expand market opportunities for enterprises in the region.
The designation is aimed at fostering increased participation in global trade and supporting long-term development within the district, he said.
Under the DEH initiative, the government is undertaking a structured process to identify and address district-specific export bottlenecks, including those relating to logistics, connectivity, and warehousing, Mr. Prasada explained.
For Dakshina Kannada, a District Export Action Plan (DEAP) has been formulated, highlighting requirements for improved export infrastructure, including enhanced first-mile linkages to New Mangalore Port, augmentation of warehousing and consolidation facilities, and support infrastructure for identified export products, the Minister added.
Further, a District Export Promotion Committee (DEPC) has been constituted to facilitate coordinated action among district authorities, exporters, the port authority, customs, logistics agencies, and relevant Union and State departments. Through this mechanism, infrastructure-related requirements identified in the DEAP —including port-connected warehousing and logistics support — are being taken up with the concerned implementing agencies for appropriate consideration, Mr. Prasada said.
The DEH initiative serves as a facilitative and consultative framework to ensure that district-level export requirements are aligned with ongoing and proposed infrastructure development efforts in the region, including those associated with New Mangalore Port, thereby strengthening the overall export ecosystem in Dakshina Kannada, the Minister pointed out.
The initiative aims to strengthen the district-level export potential and support local value-chain development, he said.
Published – December 02, 2025 06:32 pm IST
