Ministry of Commerce & Industry facilitates e-commerce collaboration to boost district exports
In a strategic initiative aimed at empowering micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and enhancing e-commerce exports, the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India, is joining forces with various e-commerce entities to capitalize on the Districts as Export Hubs initiative. The primary goal is to stimulate e-commerce exports from India. In a groundbreaking move, DGFT has inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Amazon India, marking the first of several collaborations with different e-commerce platforms.
Under this MoU, Amazon and DGFT will collaboratively design capacity-building sessions, training programs, and workshops tailored for MSMEs in districts identified by DGFT. This initiative aims to connect local producers, even in rural and remote districts, with global supply chains. The collaboration seeks to empower exporters and MSMEs, enabling them to showcase and sell their ‘Made in India’ products globally.
The primary objective of this collaboration is to leverage e-commerce platforms to support local exporters, manufacturers, and MSMEs in reaching potential international buyers. This partnership aligns with the Foreign Trade Policy 2023, which designates e-commerce as a focal area for amplifying India’s exports.
As part of the collaboration, e-commerce platforms across India will identify districts to conduct various capacity-building and outreach activities in conjunction with DGFT-Regional Authorities. These initiatives will focus on educating MSMEs about e-commerce exports and facilitating their access to global customers. Additionally, the capacity-building sessions will cover topics such as product imaging, digital cataloging, tax advisory, and more. Through this initiative, Indian entrepreneurs can establish and expand their e-commerce export businesses and global presence. The MoU with Amazon India initially targets 20 districts for capacity building and support.
DGFT is actively engaging with various e-commerce platforms such as Flipkart/Walmart, E-bay, Rivexa, Shopclues, Shiprocket, DHL Express, etc., to establish similar collaborations in other districts under the Districts as Export Hubs initiative. This concerted effort aims to support and promote new and first-time exporters and other MSME producers, contributing significantly to achieving the ambitious goal of $1 trillion in goods exports by 2030.
