Amazon India has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) to enable MSMEs and bolster e-commerce exports from India. Amazon and DGFT will co-create capacity building sessions, trainings and workshops for MSMEs across 75 districts that are a part of the DGFT’s ‘Districts as Export Hubs’ initiative outlined in India’s new Foreign Trade Policy.
Transforming districts into export powerhouses
The ‘Districts as Export Hubs’ initiative emphasises the significance of leveraging the unique potential and diverse identity of each district and transform them into export powerhouses. The Department of Commerce, working in close collaboration with states, union territories and districts through the DGFT, establishes institutional frameworks to facilitate exports of identified products and services. The initiative aims to boost the manufacturing and exports in urban areas while stimulating economic activity in rural districts. It establishes a connection between local producers and global supply chains, addressing various facets of production.
The ‘District as Exports Hub’ initiative is an implementation of Hon’ble Prime Minister’s vision of converting each district into an export hub.
"Given Amazon’s global presence and their experience of working with lakhs of MSMEs in India, we believe this collaboration is an important step towards our goal of enabling $200-300 billion in ecommerce exports from India by 2030,” says Sarangi.
Helping MSMEs reach a global customer base
Amazon and DGFT will focus on educating MSMEs on e-commerce exports, enabling them to reach a global customer base. Moreover, Amazon will also facilitate access to a network of third-party service providers specialising in areas such as product imaging, digital cataloging, and tax consultancy, catering to the diverse needs of MSMEs. These services will equip Indian entrepreneurs with the tools and resources required to establish thriving export businesses and build global brands.
“We are excited about this collaboration with the DGFT and we really look forward to play our part in helping Indian MSMEs and entrepreneurs create strong global brands. Our focus remains on making exports simpler and more accessible to businesses of all sizes as we work towards our goal of enabling $20 billion in cumulative ecommerce exports from India by 2025,” says Bhupen Wakankar, Director Global Trade at Amazon India.
What is Amazon Global Selling
Amazon Global Selling is a flagship exports program that helps lower the entry barrier for Indian MSMEs to start or expand their exports business using ecommerce. The program was launched in India in 2015 to help Indian exporters reach customers worldwide through Amazon’s international websites and marketplaces. Today there are more than 1.25 lakh exporters across India on the program, showcasing millions of Made in India products to customers in 200+ countries. Together, they have enabled nearly $8 billion in cumulative exports from India. Amazon has pledged to enable $20 billion in cumulative exports from the country by 2025.
