Ecommerce exports play a pivotal role in enhancing the customer base and increasing the scale of small businesses in India, said Union Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) minister, Narayan Rane on Thursday.
MSME Rane unveiled IndiaXports 2.0, a mass export development program of India SME Forum (IISF) to empower 200,000 first-time exporters to enter international markets by fostering export readiness and capacity building.
Talking about the program, the minister stated that initiatives like these are crucial in enhancing their capabilities and contribution to India’s economic development.
The pilot project for the initiative was also supported by the minister in 2021 which witnessed participation from over 8 lakh entrepreneurs, 20,000 subscribers, 42,000 plus help desk queries and mentoring for 1190 MSMEs to overcome export challenges.
Ateesh Kumar Singh, Joint Secretary, Ministry of MSME said, “The Udyam portal has witnessed an impressive MSME registration of approximately 2-2.5 crore, increasing daily by thousands. However, when we look at the number of MSMEs actively engaged in exports, it stands at around 1.93 lakh, revealing the unrealised potential in MSME exports.”
Recognising a knowledge gap in conducting business via ecommerce platforms, the government has initiated outreach and awareness programs to address this challenge, paving the way for greater MSME involvement in global trade, the Joint Secretary added.
Santosh Sarangi, IAS, Director General of Foreign Trade said, “To achieve our ambitious USD 2 trillion export target, a concerted effort is required in both goods and services. The positive correlation between export growth and increased per capita GDP is evident in successful export-driven economies like Korea, Germany, and Vietnam, where a significant portion of their GDP stems from exports.”
Sarangi mentioned that India, with an export share of around 21 to 22 per cent of GDP, aspires to reach 30 per cent, necessitating proactive interventions in both the public and private sectors. Central to this endeavour is the pivotal role that MSMEs must play in enhancing manufacturing competitiveness, coupled with an unwavering commitment to uncompromising quality and standards.
These factors collectively position MSMEs as key catalysts in propelling India toward becoming a major player in global exports.
