Lack of e-commerce policy in India a problem: Top Official

22 Mar '18

2 min read

Due to lack of a national e-commerce policy, India grapples with the issue of who owns the business-to-consumer (B2C) e-commerce space as there are multiple policymakers and regulators, such as the departments of information technology, industrial policy, revenue, posts, and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), according to commerce secretary Rita Teaotia.

Unless all government players come on the same page and there is a consolidated legal framework to deal with B2C e-commerce, the sector’s challenges cannot be addressed and India cannot take up related issues at the World Trade Organisation, Teaotia said addressing a workshop on e-commerce recently in New Delhi.

She said India needs to ensure readiness of its own companies for accessing global markets before talking about rule-making on the global front, as there are differences in the definition of micro, small and medium enterprises in India, the United States and Germany.

Observing that India ranks 83rd among 144 countries ranked by UNCTAD in B2C e-commerce space, she said the department of commerce wants to look at export opportunities from B2C e-commerce sector, which accounts for $500 million or 0.19 per cent of India's total exports, according to a news agency report.

India's low internet penetration at 33 per cent as compared to developed economies, the vast urban-rural divide, inefficient delivery infrastructure in rural areas and power supply issues are also challenges for the sector, she added (DS)

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