An export enquiry starts with two different questions: can an overseas buyer discover your business, and can you fulfil the proposed shipment? An online business profile addresses the first. Cargo details, destination requirements, payment arrangements and a realistic logistics scope still need attention before you commit to the second.
An opportunity for eligible startups
In its 7 August 2026 release, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry describes expanded access to the Source from India service on Trade Connect for eligible DPIIT-recognised startups. The service gives eligible exporters a digital microsite through which international buyers can find their business and offerings. The release also describes a startup badge.
One route described in that announcement is relevant before a startup has built up its usual export record. It calls for DPIIT recognition, a currently active IEC and no listing on the Denied Entity List; DGFT checks the IEC information when assessing onboarding. These conditions need checking against the current instructions and your own records; this article does not establish your eligibility. Read the official August 2026 announcement.
Use the platform to frame a better enquiry
The government's Trade Connect launch release of 11 September 2024 describes product and country guides, trade-agreement information, export learning and an expert-query service. These are starting points for identifying questions about a potential market.
A useful distinction is to record what you know separately from what you still need verified. A buyer's requested delivery date, for example, is an enquiry input. It becomes a shipment commitment only after the relevant commercial and operational checks. A marketplace profile is similarly a discovery opportunity, rather than evidence of an order or a completed shipment assessment.
What to prepare for a shipment discussion
Start with a brief product description, proposed destination, approximate quantity, cargo readiness and the buyer's requested scope. Keep unknown details marked as unknown. That gives your logistics adviser a clearer starting point without treating an exploratory enquiry as an approved quotation.
WCL can help organise the shipment facts and identify the customs, documentation and freight questions requiring a separate review. Email webq@wclogistic.in with the basic route and cargo outline to discuss the next step.
Sources
- PIB: startup access to Source from India, 7 August 2026
- PIB: Trade Connect launch and services, 11 September 2024
Source check: 31 October 2026. This guide explains an earlier announcement, rather than presenting it as news issued today. Portal registration, an individual business's eligibility and current operational acceptance have not been verified here. Confirm the applicable instructions through the official government route before applying.