INDIA – India has launched the LIFT scheme under the Export Promotion Mission NIRYAT DISHA, administered by the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, providing crucial financial relief to exporters in Jammu and Kashmir. For fresh-produce buyers and food logistics investors, this initiative makes high-value Himalayan products, such as walnuts, saffron, and apples, more competitive in global markets by mitigating the region’s landlocked logistical disadvantages. Addressing Logistical Constraints Jammu and Kashmir have been included among the eligible regions, enabling exporters to claim freight cost reimbursement for notified products. Exporters in the region face higher transport costs due to its landlocked geography and limited access to seaports. Goods are often transported to distant cargo terminals and ports, increasing costs and affecting market access. The Kashmir Chamber of Commerce & Industry noted that the scheme’s introduction follows years of repeated engagement with the ...