EXPORTERS URGED TO ADOPT E-COMMERCE
TO MAXIMISE TRADE GAINS
RUDY
ADDRESSES CII NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON E-COMMERCE
Emphasising the need
for creating an enabling environment for large-scale adoption
of E-commerce by Indian companies for enhancing export competitiveness
through supply chain efficiencies. Shri Rajiv Pratap Rudy, Minister
of State for Commerce & Industry, has said that there is a
need for a very strong intervention from the government for enabling
e-commerce to develop and gain a significant position in the business
processes of Indian companies and assured that the Commerce Ministry
would like to orchestrate this intervention on behalf of the Indian
exporters. "While at the firm level supply chain efficiencies
are becoming the most important drivers of competitiveness, no
amount of firm level intervention for building efficiencies in
the supply chain will be effective unless the overall integration
takes place in the economy’s supply chain and logistics structure
and systems", Shri Rudy said while addressing the National Conference
on E-Commerce organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry
(CII), here today.
Already some major
steps are being taken for the rapid absorption of EDI (Electronic
Data Interchange) in India’s trading system as an important precursor
to rapid development of E-commerce in India. "As part of these
efforts, the recently announced Exim Policy 2003-04 is according
high priority to the implementation of the EDI programme. It also
aims at providing online approvals. The full implementation of
the EDI programme by all the community partners as per the agreed
schedule will make this possible which would ultimately result
in reduction in transaction costs and improved efficiency", Shri
Rudy said.
Shri Rudy stressed
that promotion of exports had been given high priority in the
current Exim Policy. "The recent export performance of 16.76%
export growth for April-February 2002-03 is also rather encouraging.
Services is one new area which has been identified as a potential
area in which we can be competitive. Policies and strategies are
being formulated in this area also", he said. The quantum jump
in exports could be achieved by exporters adopting good marketing
strategies and initiating micro-reforms at the firm level to effect
cost cutting and enhanced productivity, he added.
