Amazon to promote MSMEs' e-commerce exports from India

Amazon India has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry, to support micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and promote e-commerce exports from India.

Amazon and DGFT are set to conduct capacity building sessions and workshops across 75 districts identified by DGFT, aligning with the Districts as Export Hubs initiative from the Foreign Trade Policy introduced in March 2023, Chetan Krishnaswamy, Vice President, Public Policy, Amazon said in his LinkedIn post.

"The aim is to link local producers in rural areas with global supply chains, fostering a robust connection for MSMEs to thrive globally."

Under the collaboration, districts will be identified by various e-commerce platforms across India to undertake various capacity-building and outreach activities in collaboration with DGFT's regional authorities, the ministry said in a release.

"These activities will focus on educating MSMEs on e-commerce exports and enabling them to sell to customers across the world. In addition, the capacity building session will allow MSMEs to learn about imaging, digital cataloguing of their products, tax advisory among others. With this, Indian entrepreneurs can build their e-commerce exports businesses and global brands. Under the MoU with Amazon India, 20 districts have been identified for such capacity building and handholding sessions."

DGFT is in discussion with various e-commerce platforms and logistics companies like Flipkart/Walmart, Ebay, Rivexa, Shopclues, Shiprocket and DHL Express to have similar collaboration in other districts. "This will supplement DGFT’s efforts to hand hold, promote new and first time exporters and other MSME producers to export from India, thereby making substantial strides towards the goal of $1 trillion goods exports by year 2030."

Amazon to use rivers, backwaters to transport packages
Amazon had, earlier this week, signed a MoU with the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) for promoting cargo movement and transportation of customer shipments & products via inland waterways using river Ganga (National Waterway 1).

The maiden ship with e-commerce cargo will be flagged off from Patna to Kolkata soon.