‘Inter-ministerial group studying e-com issues’

An inter-ministerial group at the Centre is discussing issues related to the e-commerce sector from the perspective of providing policy inputs to the government.

The discussions are not limited to those concerning online sale of goods but cover services as well, Union Commerce Secretary Rita Teaotia said.

Rapid growth

Noting that many Ministries were part of the group set up recently, she said e-commerce was growing rapidly. “What should be the framework for this is something we would need to address,” she said. “It is early days yet. There are large number of issues, we need to get all the views in first,” she replied when asked about the key areas of discussion and time frame given to the Group.

On the export outlook for FY19, the official, who spoke to the media after addressing exporters here, said the focus of the Department of Commerce is on strengthening efficiency of logistics, facilitating trade, including by way of simplification of rules and regulations and working on quality aspects of the products.

Stating GST issues dominated the exporters’ meeting, Ms. Teaotia said “today front burner for nearly every exporter is streamlining of GST process.” The government is working to ensure GST becomes absolutely trouble-free in administration for the exporters.

To a query on no new free trade agreements in recent times, she said: “We are engaging with our trade partners but very clear that the agreement we sign must be mutually beneficial.”

Also with the country over the years liberalising systematically and progressively, the demand for “negotiation partners, particularly from developed world, has reduced. They [now] have to also recalibrate their requirements against our demands,” she said, adding it was EU and not India that withdrew from the negotiations on the bilateral investment agreement.

A Commerce Ministry official was in Brussels this week for a meeting to address each of the chapters of the agreement with EU. “I hope we will see progress. EU is also interested now,” she said.