Kolkata In a bid to boost India's e-commerce exports, the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) is working with the Department of Revenue to set up designated e-commerce centers across the country to streamline the process of export shipments online.
The country's e-commerce exports currently stand at $2 billion, compared to China's staggering $350 billion, according to industry sources.
The government aims to bridge the gap by establishing a supportive e-commerce ecosystem, they said.
"A lot of rationalization is required in this regard. We are working with the Revenue Department to designate e-commerce centers so that clearance of goods is done quickly," said Director General of Foreign Trade Santosh Kumar Sarangi.
He said these centers will have facilities such as dedicated security and customs checkpoints, allowing authorized packages to pass through a green channel at airports, eliminating the need for further inspections.
This approach reflects best practices seen in other countries, Sarangi said.
He also noted that e-commerce centers will be built and maintained by private entities, while the government will oversee security and customs clearance.
In addition to expediting authorizations, the proposed centers would offer storage facilities, returns processing, labeling, product testing and repackaging services.
This public-private partnership aims to create a robust infrastructure for efficient e-commerce exports, the official said.
These centers could function similarly to customs zones, facilitating e-commerce exports, said Ajay Sahai, Director General of the Federation of Indian Export Organizations (FIEO).
One report estimated that with a policy reorientation, India's e-commerce exports could reach $350 billion by 2030.
Streamlining the export process through dedicated centers is a crucial step in this direction, experts mentioned.
The country's e-commerce exports currently stand at $2 billion, compared to China's staggering $350 billion, according to industry sources.
The government aims to bridge the gap by establishing a supportive e-commerce ecosystem, they said.
"A lot of rationalization is required in this regard. We are working with the Revenue Department to designate e-commerce centers so that clearance of goods is done quickly," said Director General of Foreign Trade Santosh Kumar Sarangi.
He said these centers will have facilities such as dedicated security and customs checkpoints, allowing authorized packages to pass through a green channel at airports, eliminating the need for further inspections.
This approach reflects best practices seen in other countries, Sarangi said.
He also noted that e-commerce centers will be built and maintained by private entities, while the government will oversee security and customs clearance.
In addition to expediting authorizations, the proposed centers would offer storage facilities, returns processing, labeling, product testing and repackaging services.
This public-private partnership aims to create a robust infrastructure for efficient e-commerce exports, the official said.
These centers could function similarly to customs zones, facilitating e-commerce exports, said Ajay Sahai, Director General of the Federation of Indian Export Organizations (FIEO).
One report estimated that with a policy reorientation, India's e-commerce exports could reach $350 billion by 2030.
Streamlining the export process through dedicated centers is a crucial step in this direction, experts mentioned.
