New Delhi: The national e-commerce policy, under formulation by the commerce and industry ministry, is in its final stages and is due for an announcement soon, Union Minister Piyush Goyal revealed recently.
In August, the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) conducted extensive discussions with representatives from e-commerce firms and a domestic traders’ body regarding the proposed policy.
Commerce and Industry Minister Goyal said, “It is at the final stages of discussion at the highest level in the government. We hope to come out very soon.”
Having previously issued two draft national e-commerce policies, the ministry’s 2019 draft aimed to address key aspects of the e-commerce ecosystem, including data, infrastructure development, e-commerce marketplaces, regulatory issues, stimulating the domestic digital economy, and promoting exports through e-commerce.
The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), a domestic traders’ body, has consistently urged the swift implementation of the policy. CAIT alleges that foreign online retailers are violating Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) norms in commerce, and the organisation has called for government action against those engaging in malpractices. Simultaneously, the DPIIT is actively developing a national retail trade policy.
