Lok Sabha Question No. 3292 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-03-23
Subject: Collaboration Between Small Businesses and e-Commerce Platforms
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: M.K. Vishnu Prasad

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT FOR PROMOTION OF INDUSTRY AND INTERNAL TRADE

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3292. TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, THE 23 RD      MARCH, 2022.

## COLLABORATION BETWEEN SMALL BUSINESSES AND ECOMMERCE PLATFORMS

## 3292.  DR. VISHNU PRASAD M.K.:

Will the Minister of COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY be pleased to state: वाणिज्य एवं उद्योग मंत्री

- (a) whether the Government has planned any initiative to enhance the collaboration between small businesses and E-commerce platforms;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether  the  Government  through  collaboration  can  also  ensure  greater participation of rural sector in Ecommerce space; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## वाणिज्य एवं उद्योग मंत्रालय में राज्य मंत्री ( श्री सोम प्रकाश ) THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (SHRI SOM PARKASH)

(a) to (d):

Government  has  taken  several  initiatives  to  enhance  collaboration between  small  business  and  e-commerce  platforms.  Some  of  the initiatives in this context are as follows:

Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), Department has exempted sellers of specified handicraft goods made by  craftsmen  from  obtaining  compulsory  registration  under  GST  Act, thus enabling collaboration between small businesses and e-commerce of Revenue platforms.

Department for Promotion of Industry & Internal Trade (DPIIT) has actively engaged with various large e-commerce platforms to onboard artisans and handicraftsmen, including those engaged in manufacture of Geographical Indication  (GI)  goods  and toys.  Further, under  the  One District - One Product (ODOP) initiative, drives have been conducted across  various  States,  facilitating  on-boarding  of  sellers  of  identified products on e-Commerce platforms to provide greater visibility for small businesses from rural sector.

Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME) has taken multiple  initiatives  for  enhancing  participation  of  small  business  in  ecommerce which include:

-  Procurement  and  Marketing  Support  (PMS)  Scheme : Under  this Scheme, the sub-component of 'Adoption of e-Commerce by Micro Enterprises'  has  been  introduced.  This  new  component  includes providing  financial  assistance  for  selling  products  or  services  by Micro  Enterprises  (up  to  10  new  products)  through  e-commerce portals.
-  Portals  of  National  Small  Industries  Corporation  (NSIC):  NSIC  is operating MSME Global Mart portal. This is a non-transactional B2B Portal which facilitates e-Marketing support to MSME's. The portal provides information of business, technology and finance and also exhibits the core competence of Indian SMEs.
-  E-commerce  portal  of  Khadi  and  Village  Industries  Commission (KVIC): KVIC has developed an online portal https://www.kviconline.gov.in  for selling Khadi  products added by Khadi Gramodyog Bhavan, New Delhi.

Ministry of Tribal Affairs has launched an e-market place www.tribesindia.com portal through Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India Limited (TRIFED). It has forged tie ups with  various  leading  e-Commerce  platforms  and  is  on-boarding  tribal artisans with their products for online sales.

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