Odisha Eyes ONDC Integration to Boost E-Commerce Reach for Local Producers

Bhubaneswar: Odisha is considering leveraging the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) to create new market opportunities for local producers, strengthen digital participation and expand the reach of small businesses and community-led enterprises beyond conventional e-commerce channels.

The proposal came up during a review meeting chaired by Chief Secretary Anu Garg in Bhubaneswar on Thursday, where the ONDC team presented the platform’s framework and explored opportunities for integrating Odisha’s economic sectors into a wider digital commerce ecosystem.

The proposed collaboration is expected to support micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), farmers’ producer organisations (FPOs), self-help groups (SHGs), handicraft artisans, weavers and other grassroots entrepreneurs by enabling direct access to consumers and reducing barriers to digital market participation.

Developed as a flagship initiative of the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, ONDC functions as an open digital network that enables buyers and sellers to transact across interoperable platforms rather than through closed marketplace systems.

During the discussions, ONDC representatives highlighted the scale and potential of the platform, noting that nearly two crore transactions are currently processed every month across sectors such as retail, logistics, mobility, travel and financial services. The network is also being adopted by departments under more than ten Union ministries.

Tourism emerged as one of the key sectors identified for digital expansion. The platform was presented as an opportunity to increase the visibility of Odisha’s major destinations—including Konark Sun Temple, Puri, Chilika Lake, Similipal and Bhitarkanika—as well as eco-tourism circuits and tribal cultural experiences for domestic and international audiences.

Officials also discussed how local tourism operators, homestay owners, Mission Shakti groups, ORMAS-linked producers, handicraft artisans, weavers and MSME entrepreneurs could use the platform to directly reach buyers and travellers across the country.

Speaking during the meeting, Chief Secretary Anu Garg highlighted the importance of strengthening digital access for local enterprises and expanding participation in online commerce. She noted that ONDC could help create broader market visibility and demand generation opportunities for small sellers compared to traditional e-commerce structures.

She also called on departments to identify sectors that could be integrated into the digital ecosystem to support business growth and improve market connectivity.

The Chief Secretary further emphasised the need to onboard tourism and eco-tourism destinations onto the network to improve discoverability and provide visitors with convenient digital access and booking services.

Senior officials from departments including Electronics and Information Technology, Commerce and Transport, Agriculture, Mission Shakti, Tourism, Industries, Forest, Environment and Climate Change, Handlooms, Textiles and Handicrafts, and Fisheries and Animal Resources Development attended the meeting.