Commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal said on Saturday that India is on track to meet its $1 trillion exports target in FY27, despite disruptions caused by the West Asia crisis. He noted that the country has already achieved over 15% of the target. Goyal expressed confidence that Indian exporters are well on the path to achieving the goal, crediting free trade agreements (FTAs) and improved ease of doing business. He added that India has set the goal of reaching $2 trillion a year in exports over the next five years. The minister said India and the US have finalised the framework for their proposed trade agreement, but the deal will not take effect until India secures a tariff advantage over competing exporting nations. He stated that the FTA cannot be implemented until Indian duties are lower than those of competing nations. According to commerce and industry ministry data, India's cumulative exports, including merchandise and services, during April-May 2026-27 are estimated at $162.69 billion, up 14.66% from $141.89 billion a year earlier. Goyal also stressed strengthening India's competitiveness in emerging sectors such as artificial intelligence. A majority of the Rs 10,000-crore Startup India Fund of Funds 2.0, recently notified by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), has been earmarked for startups developing AI-related products and services. Backing Maharashtra's data centre push, the minister said Mumbai's connectivity and submarine cable landing stations make it a preferred location, and that lakhs of crores of rupees will be generated when data centres are launched. On the rupee, which depreciated from about Rs 60 to the dollar in 2014 to Rs 95.50 in 2026, Goyal said exchange rates are influenced by international developments.