New Delhi: In a groundbreaking initiative, the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India, collaborated with various e-commerce giants to propel district-wise exports, aligning with the Foreign Trade Policy 2023. The memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed with Amazon India, marking the first step in this innovative partnership.
As part of the collaboration, Amazon and DGFT will co-create capacity-building sessions, training, and workshops for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in districts identified under the “Districts as Export Hubs” initiative. This initiative, outlined in the Foreign Trade Policy 2023, aims to connect local producers in rural and remote districts with global supply chains. The objective is to empower exporters and MSMEs to showcase their ‘Made in India’ products to an international audience.
The MoU signing ceremony took place in the presence of key figures, including Shri. Santosh Sarangi (Additional Secretary and Director General, DGFT), Chetan Krishnaswamy (Vice President, Public Policy – Amazon), and Bhupen Wakankar (Director Global Trade – Amazon India).
The collaboration’s core objective is to leverage e-commerce platforms to assist local exporters, manufacturers, and MSMEs in reaching potential international buyers. The partnership is in line with the Foreign Trade Policy 2023, where e-commerce is identified as a key focus area for boosting India’s exports.
Under this collaboration, various e-commerce platforms will identify districts across India to conduct capacity-building and outreach activities in coordination with DGFT Regional Authorities. These activities will educate MSMEs on e-commerce exports, guiding them on selling their products globally. Additionally, the capacity-building sessions will cover aspects like imaging, digital cataloging, tax advisory, and more. The MoU with Amazon India has already identified 20 districts for these sessions.
DGFT is in talks with other major e-commerce platforms like Flipkart/Walmart, E-bay, Rivexa, Shopclues, Shiprocket, DHL Express, among others, to extend similar collaborations in different districts across the country under the “Districts as Export Hubs” initiative. This initiative supplements DGFT’s efforts to support new and first-time exporters, as well as other MSME producers, contributing significantly to the goal of achieving $1 trillion in goods exports by 2030.