New Delhi, Oct. 7 -- Around 8,000 Rules of Origin certificates were issued under the India-European Free Trade Association (EFTA) trade agreement in its first year, while exports of several products that India did not ship earlier have also begun, Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal said on Wednesday.

The numbers offer an early indication of businesses beginning to use the Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA), which has completed its first year, although Agrawal said the creation of new products and supply chains would take more time.

"The feedback from exporters has been good. In the first year, we saw around 8,000 Rules of Origin certificates issued. This means that people have taken advantage of the Free Trade Agreement," Ag...