The Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) is actively collaborating with the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) to integrate MSMEs into its open e-commerce network. Minister of State in the Commerce Ministry, Som Parkash, highlighted ONDC’s efforts to onboard MSMEs through existing seller applications and integrate MSME-Mart, a B2B portal under the National Small Industries Corporation (NSIC) with over 2 lakh MSMEs. This strategic partnership aims to democratize e-commerce and potentially generate $250-300 billion in gross merchandise value by 2030, according to a report by consultancy firm RedSeer.
Expanding Reach through Industry Collaborations
ONDC is actively engaging with industry associations like the National Restaurant Association of India (NRAI) and the Federation of Hotel & Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI) to onboard restaurants through various food aggregators. Currently, ONDC boasts over 59,000 food and beverage sellers and a total of more than 2.3 lakh sellers and service providers, including small, medium, and large enterprises.
Empowering Small Businesses and Fostering Awareness
To empower small businesses, ONDC has undertaken initiatives such as awareness workshops in collaboration with industry associations, a Feet on Street program for seller education, and the creation of educational content. The platform, launched in 2021, aims to challenge digital monopolies, standardize operations, and enhance efficiency throughout the e-commerce value chain. The concerted efforts of ONDC align with the vision to support India’s MSME ecosystem and contribute significantly to the digital transformation of e-commerce.
