NEW DELHI, Nov. 3 -- India is emerging as a preferred trade partner, with countries across regions seeking preferential and free trade agreements with it, commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal said on Tuesday, expressing confidence that the country's exports would reach $1 trillion this financial year.

India recorded its highest-ever exports of $863 billion last year and set a 16% growth target for the current year, Goyal said at the Young Leaders Discourse Forum at Kirori Mal College in New Delhi.

Exports grew 14% in the first six months of the year to $480 billion, he said, expressing confidence that the annual target would be met.

India would need to achieve exports worth another $520 billion in the remaining six months to mee...