“E-Commerce Exports Handbook for MSMEs”, a comprehensive guide for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises seeking to harness e-commerce platforms for expanding their exports, was released by Union Minister Piyush Goyal in New Delhi on 28th December 2023. The handbook has been prepared by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT).
Speaking at the launch, the Union Minister of Commerce & Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, and Textiles said that the Handbook is a significant initiative supporting the objectives of Foreign Trade Policy 2023 that provides detailed insights into strategies for promoting exports via e-commerce, facilitating MSMEs to venture into global markets effectively. According to the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Goyal highlighted that through e-commerce, the goal is to bridge the gap and connect Indian MSMEs, craftsmen, farmers, and food processors with global markets.
Goyal also announced that the benefit of the Scheme for Remission of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products (RoDTEP) would be extended to courier and postal exports and for this, the necessary IT framework and other enablers are being put in place. He further emphasized that this step should help the SME sectors to take advantage of Government schemes, further pushing the e-Commerce exports and boosting overall export growth from the country to achieve the target of 1 trillion USD merchandise exports by 2030.
“E-Commerce Exports Handbook for MSMEs” is initially released in four languages namely English, Hindi, Gujarati and Kannada, and will be translated into all official languages across India, ensuring accessibility and benefitting consumers, entrepreneurs, farmers, and women entrepreneurs looking to contribute significantly to trade and commerce.
The Ministry also informed that to further supplement the Department of Commerce’s efforts to hand hold, promote new and first-time exporters and other MSME producers to export from India, especially through the E-Commerce route, an Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was also signed between DGFT and Shiprocket, an E-Commerce enabler for holding capacity building and handholding sessions, as part of the E-Commerce outreach conducted by DGFT Regional Authorities under its Districts as Export Hubs Initiative. This is part of the DGFT’s collaboration with different E-Commerce platforms/enablers to hold training sessions in districts across the country with focus on promoting E-Commerce exports. The E-Commerce exports handbook for MSME will be a key resource for creating awareness on E-Commerce exports through these outreach events in the districts.
