Policy on e-commerce on the anvil

Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has directed Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) to immediately form a committee to hear grievances and provide necessary clarifications on issues related to FDI in e-Commerce.

Goyal has reiterated that the Government will ensure that small retailers and kirana shops thrive in the country.

The Commerce and Industry Ministry is making all efforts to balance the interests of small businesses, retailers, kirana shop owners and e-Commerce companies.

He wants the committee to be headed by Additional Secretary in DPIIT, with representatives of Department of Commerce, Ministries of MSME, Consumers Affairs and legal experts from Government as members.

The directive was given after Goyal, along with Ministers of State, Hardeep Singh Puri and Som Parkash, held an interactive session with e-Commerce companies on 25 June 2019.

The meeting discussed ways to bring about convergence of interests of e-Commerce platforms and small retailers.

The session was also an exercise by DPIIT to understand specific issues related to e-Commerce platforms, including sectors like services, food and used goods.

Goyal said he will again hold a meeting after a month.

During the interaction, the Minister assured that the e-Commerce policy is work in progress and enough time will be given to all stakeholders to adapt to any changes that may be required.

More importantly, the changes will be prospective and nothing will be implemented with retrospective effect.

He urged e-Commerce companies to always honor the spirit as well as letter of the law.

Goyal also informed that the Ministry will look at ways of facilitating sale of India’s handicraft and handlooms through e-Commerce platforms. He especially emphasised on export promotion through e-Commerce platforms.

The Minister was of the view that even as the interests of MSMEs and other small retailers are protected, India will continue to embrace technology and digitalization to take the economy forward.

The meeting was attended by India’s Ambassador to WTO, J. S. Deepak, Secretary DPIIT, Ramesh Abhishek, Secretary, Department of Commerce, Anup Wadhawan and senior officers of both Departments.

Founders, CEOs and other senior executives of around 25 e-Commerce companies expressed their views during the meeting. fiinews.com