Payoneer, a global financial platform focused on cross-border commerce, has launched the Payoneer India Cross-Border Excellence Awards 2026 in association with The Economic Times to recognise Indian businesses driving international trade and exports.
The awards will culminate in a gala event in New Delhi in September 2026 and are aimed at showcasing companies contributing to India’s growing cross-border economy.
Export growth backdrop
The initiative comes at a time when India’s services exports reached a record $388 billion in FY25, registering 14% year-on-year growth. EY has projected that India’s e-commerce exports could reach $200-300 billion by 2030, while the government has set a target of $2 trillion in exports by FY31.
Payoneer India Vice President and Country Manager Gaurav Shisodia said India’s cross-border economy was being shaped by a wider base of businesses, including IT services, SaaS and digital marketing firms, e-commerce sellers, D2C brands, regional exporters and women entrepreneurs.
Award categories
The awards cover a broad range of sectors across services exports, e-commerce and regional business leadership.
Service exporters will be recognised in categories including IT & Development, AI/ML, Digital Marketing Services, SaaS/B2B Solutions, Managed Services and EdTech. E-commerce exporters will compete across Fashion & Apparel, Home & Kitchen, and Personal Care, Health & Wellness.
Additional categories include D2C Cross-Border Brand, Global Employer, Woman In Export Excellence and Company Incorporation Partner. Regional awards will also honour export leaders from North, South, and West/East India.
Evaluation process
An independent jury comprising senior industry figures will evaluate shortlisted nominees using a predefined framework. Criteria include growth and scale (40%), market reach and geographic diversification (30%), innovation and differentiation (15%), employment and community impact (10%), and digital infrastructure and payments readiness (5%).
The September 2026 event in New Delhi will also feature discussions on export policy, digital infrastructure, trade reforms, free trade agreements and strategies for scaling Indian businesses globally.