DGFT, Revenue Dept Aim to Boost E-Commerce Exports with Dedicated Hubs

New Delhi, Jun 24 (KNN) In a strategic move to enhance India's position in the global e-commerce market, the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) is collaborating with the Department of Revenue to establish specialised e-commerce export hubs across the country.

This initiative aims to streamline the process for online export shipments and significantly boost India's e-commerce exports, which currently lag far behind competitors like China.

Industry sources reveal that India's e-commerce exports stand at a modest USD 2 billion, in stark contrast to China's impressive USD 350 billion.

The Indian government is determined to bridge this substantial gap by creating a more supportive ecosystem for e-commerce exporters.

DGFT Director General Santosh Kumar Sarangi highlighted the need for streamlining the export process. "We are working with the Department of Revenue to have designated e-commerce hubs so that clearance of goods happens fast," Sarangi told PTI.

These hubs will feature dedicated customs and security checks, allowing cleared parcels to proceed through a green channel at airports without further inspections.

The proposed hubs, to be built and maintained by private entities with government oversight on security and customs clearances, will offer a range of services including warehousing, returns processing, labelling, product testing, and repackaging.

This public-private partnership model aims to create a robust infrastructure for efficient e-commerce exports.

Ajay Sahai, Director General of the Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO), suggested that these hubs could function similarly to bonded zones, further facilitating e-commerce exports.

Experts believe that with appropriate policy reorientation, India's e-commerce exports could potentially reach USD 350 billion by 2030.

The establishment of these dedicated hubs is seen as a crucial step towards achieving this ambitious target.

As India seeks to carve out a larger share of the global e-commerce market, this initiative represents a significant move towards creating a more competitive and efficient export ecosystem for online retailers.

(KNN Bureau)