India, Nov. 6 -- India's exports touched $ 437 billion in FY24, and the government is targeting exports of over $1 trillion by 2030. SMEs contribute nearly 45% of India's total exports, with over 63 million MSMEs based primarily in non-metro cities. India's economic transformation is no longer restricted to its metropolitan hubs. Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, once considered peripheral to industrial growth, are rapidly becoming central to the country's global trade aspirations. These cities are emerging as critical nodes in global supply chains amid shifting geopolitical realities, supply chain diversification, and realignment of global sourcing strategies.

While India is placing major bets on infrastructure with an aim to move from being ju...