Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal has launched the ‘E-Commerce Exports Handbook for MSMEs,’ a comprehensive guide developed by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT). The handbook aims to assist Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in leveraging e-commerce platforms to boost their exports. Goyal emphasized the global demand for India’s traditional products, such as millets, and outlined strategies within the handbook to help MSMEs scale into international markets.
RoDTEP Scheme Expansion: Goyal also announced the extension of the Scheme for Remission of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products (RoDTEP) to encompass courier and postal exports. This expansion is expected to facilitate Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in benefiting from government initiatives, fostering e-commerce exports, and contributing to the overall goal of achieving $1 trillion in merchandise exports by 2030.
Key Features of RoDTEP: The RoDTEP scheme provides exporters with rebates on central, state, and local duties or taxes on exported goods, not covered by other schemes. It also includes refunds for embedded taxes or duties, such as VAT on fuel used in transport and duties on electricity used in production.
Collaboration with Shiprocket: During the event, DGFT signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Shiprocket, an e-commerce logistics and shipping software company. The MoU aims to facilitate capacity building and handholding sessions as part of the e-commerce outreach initiative, supporting MSMEs in becoming export hubs.
MSME Contribution and Export Growth: As of September, MSME-related products constituted 45.56% of all India exports. The move is crucial as India’s overall exports, combining merchandise and services, experienced a 2.97% decline in April-September 2023 compared to the same period in the previous fiscal year. Goyal’s initiatives aim to revitalize the sector and foster positive growth in India’s export landscape
