New Delhi: The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India, has taken significant strides in bolstering e-commerce exports from the country, as part of its visionary ‘District as Export Hubs’ initiative. Aimed at empowering micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to tap into international markets through digital channels, this initiative has witnessed a pivotal collaboration today between DGFT and global logistics giant DHL.
The collaboration was cemented through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), marking a milestone in India’s efforts to strengthen its e-commerce export capabilities. Under the MoU, 76 districts will be covered in three phases, wherein capacity-building sessions, training programs, and workshops will be conducted to prepare Indian MSMEs for global trade.
During the signing event, Sunil Barthwal, Commerce Secretary, underscored the significance of the e-commerce ecosystem and lauded India’s progress in building a robust digital infrastructure. He highlighted initiatives like Bharat Mart and emphasized the role of such platforms in facilitating international trade for Indian entrepreneurs, especially those in rural areas.
Santosh Sarangi, DG, DGFT, outlined the primary objective of the partnership: to familiarize exporters and MSMEs with the digital commerce landscape, enabling them to showcase ‘Make in India’ products to global consumers while addressing logistical challenges inherent in e-commerce exports.
Expressing enthusiasm for the collaboration, John Pearson, Global CEO of DHL, highlighted the historic nature of the partnership, making DHL the first international express operator to collaborate with DGFT. Pearson reiterated DHL’s commitment to India and its dedication to empowering MSMEs in the global marketplace, aligning with DHL’s Go Trade program.
DGFT and DHL envision assembling a team of industry experts to guide Indian exporters and MSMEs in the identified districts through mentorship programs, culminating in the development of a startup kit tailored for first-time exporters venturing into the global market.
This partnership builds upon DGFT’s recent collaborations with e-commerce giants like Amazon India and Shiprocket, covering a total of 36 districts. These alliances have facilitated a series of outreach events aimed at onboarding new exporters, nurturing first-time exporters, and assisting MSMEs in transitioning into exporters through cross-border e-commerce sales under the ‘District as Export Hub’ initiative.
With the DGFT-DHL partnership set to unfold across the identified districts, India is poised to enhance its e-commerce export prowess, opening new avenues for MSMEs to thrive in the global marketplace.
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