No. PR- 235
February 24, 2021
New Delhi
“Trade experts, MSMEs and Industry request for inclusion of chapter on ecommerce exports in the Foreign Trade Policy”
Focusing on the government call for suggestions for the New Foreign Trade Policy 2021-2026 and inclusion of chapter on E-Commerce Exports, the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry organised a virtual panel discussion on promoting e-commerce exports-suggestions for the new FTP today.
Mr Labayendu Mansingh, IAS (Retd.), Former Secretary, Consumer affairs and also ex-DGFT, Government of India, thanked PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry for taking this initiative and choosing the right topic at the right time of discussion. While highlighting about the complicated challenges in the FTP policy which includes logistics, he stated that the government is drafting a clear concise with a likelihood of a separate chapter for E-commerce in the New Foreign Trade Policy 2021-26’. According to Mr Mansingh, the new FTP is creating entrepreneurs and a major initiative for the growth and development of the sector, bringing competitiveness in the country. He also urged PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry to give its specific suggestion for the new FTP developing into one larger network.
Mr Ajay Dua, IAS (Retd.), Former Secretary, DPIIT (formerly DIPP), GOI stated that the pandemic has shown the important role of E-Commerce and way of means to reach out to people especially amid the period of lockdown. He highlighted the need to involve States as far as Exports are concerned on the same lines of the subject matter of Industries which are currently under the control of the State Governments. He also implored the regulatory bodies to acknowledge the critical nature of ecommerce in India’s growth story going forward and suggested all stakeholders to come together to plat a facilitative role in aiding and nurturing the ecommerce sector.
Ms Arpita Mukherjee, Professor & Economic Policy Researcher, ICRIER in her remarks reiterated that e-commerce platform is acting as a catalyst to integrate SMEs into the global supply chain. While worrying about the pandemic, Ms Mukherjee highlighted about the policy perspective in the New Foreign Trade Policy by bringing clarity in the definition of e-commerce, subject to clearances in line with the ministry.
Mr. Tarun Dewan, Executive Director, Sports Goods Export Promotion Council highlighted about the fall in demand and the change of route for sports and toys exporters, amid pandemic Covid-19. He also highlighted the role played by the Sports export promotion council in providing support to manufacturers especially MSMEs in onboarding and selling goods through ecommerce during the pandemic and how the FTP could play an important role in clearly defining the role of EPCs in promoting ecommerce exports.
Mr Divya Siraslewala, Director, Divya Global Pvt Ltd highlighted about the compliance and regulatory challenges & burdens an exporter faces with respect to payment & credit issues on e-commerce platforms, and the FTP should come out with clear provisions to simplify the same.
Mr Kautak K Singh, Head – Customs & Trade Consulting, DHL Logistics Pvt. Ltd., in his remarks highlighted the significant difference in logistics cost, 14% in India as opposed to a 8-10% cost in European & American countries. He therefore stressed on the need to have a cost competitive, effective logistics solution for ecommerce exports that would give Indian exporters the competitive edge as they sell to other geographies.
Prof Bejon Misra, Chairman- Consumer Affairs & Public Health, PHDCCI in his welcome address stated that The New Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) should be used as a tool in the foreign policy to strengthen India’s competitiveness and to produce best of quality standard products and then harmonize to the world.
Ms Mallika Verma, Director- Agriculture, Food Processing & Consumer Affairs & Public Health, PHDCCI in her concluding remarks thanked all the esteemed panelists and delegates for being a part of the session. She also informed about the role of industry chambers in offering suggestions to the Government bodies and recommended that PHDDCI will surely provide the memorandum of suggestions of the NEW FTP 2021-26’
The session was attended by over 200 participants.
Ends
Media Division
PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry