The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India, has intensified efforts to bolster e-commerce exports from the country, as part of its ‘District as Export Hubs’ initiative. Aimed at facilitating micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to explore international markets via e-commerce channels, this initiative is poised to reshape India’s export landscape.
In a significant move to further this initiative, DGFT has entered into a partnership with global logistics giant DHL through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). This collaboration, covering 76 districts in three phases, entails conducting capacity-building sessions, training programs, and workshops to equip Indian MSMEs with the necessary skills and knowledge to become export-ready.
At the MoU signing event, Sunil Barthwal, Commerce Secretary, underscored the pivotal role of the e-commerce ecosystem in fostering global trade. He highlighted India’s strides in creating a robust digital infrastructure and emphasised initiatives like Bharat Mart, aimed at bolstering the country’s foreign trade. Shri Barthwal expressed optimism that this collaboration would empower Indian entrepreneurs, especially those from rural areas, to tap into international markets.
Echoing this sentiment, Santosh Sarangi, DG, DGFT, elucidated that the partnership with DHL aims to introduce exporters and MSMEs to the digital commerce space. By leveraging e-commerce platforms, Indian businesses can showcase their ‘Make in India’ products to international customers, thus overcoming logistical challenges associated with traditional export channels.
John Pearson, Global CEO of DHL Express, expressed enthusiasm about this partnership, highlighting DHL’s commitment to empowering MSMEs in the global market. He emphasised that DHL is the first international express operator to collaborate with DGFT, aligning with DHL’s Go Trade program, which seeks to facilitate global trade for MSMEs.
Under this partnership, DGFT and DHL will assemble a team of knowledge experts to provide hand holding sessions and develop startup kits for first-time exporters and MSMEs seeking to expand globally. This initiative aligns with the objectives outlined in the Foreign Trade Policy 2023, reflecting DGFT’s commitment to fostering a conducive environment for India’s export community.
In recent months, DGFT has forged similar collaborations with e-commerce giants like Amazon India and logistics service providers like Shiprocket, covering various districts across the country. These partnerships have catalysed a series of outreach events aimed at onboarding new exporters, promoting first-time exporters, and facilitating MSMEs’ entry into global markets through cross-border e-commerce sales under the District as Export Hub initiative.
