In a strategic move to propel exports from districts, the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), a branch of the commerce ministry, has collaborated with Amazon India under the One District One Product (ODOP) initiative. This partnership aims to empower Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to explore global markets, aligning with the government’s vision of establishing each district as an export hub.
As part of the agreement, Amazon will play a pivotal role in export promotions for MSMEs, aiding them in building essential capacities. The ODOP scheme targets the development of individual districts as export hubs for specific products synonymous with each region.
This initiative is poised to contribute significantly to India’s ambitious e-commerce export target of $200-300 billion by 2030. The collaboration involves facilitating international buyers to place orders for distinctive domestic products through the Amazon e-commerce platform.
Under the ODOP programme, certain products, such as Agra’s translucent candy ‘Petha,’ Ajmer’s roses, and Hisar’s milk products, are being identified to enhance the export capabilities of respective districts.
Twenty districts have been selected for capacity-building initiatives, which include comprehensive training sessions. The DGFT envisions the ODOP initiative as a crucial component of achieving India’s $1 trillion goods export target by 2030, with a specific focus on e-commerce exports.
The partnership with Amazon underscores the importance of e-commerce in amplifying India’s exports, as highlighted in the Foreign Trade Policy 2023. Other e-commerce giants like Flipkart, Ebay, Rivexa, Shopclues, Shiprocket, and DHL Express are also in discussions with DGFT for potential collaborations.
This collaboration marks a concerted effort towards leveraging the vast potential of each district across India, enabling MSMEs, farmers, and small industries to harness export opportunities on a global scale. As Santosh Sarangi, the Director General of Foreign Trade, stated, “We are working closely with state governments and private players to leverage the potential of each district across India and enable MSMEs, farmers and small industries to get the benefit of export opportunities in overseas markets.”
The ODOP programme has already partnered with over 35 brands, covering approximately 100 districts. E-commerce platforms are set to identify districts nationwide for various capacity-building and outreach activities in collaboration with regional authorities of the DGFT. These activities will focus on educating MSMEs about e-commerce exports, enabling them to sell their products worldwide.
In conclusion, this collaboration between DGFT and Amazon reflects a concerted effort to harness the export potential of India’s diverse districts, fostering economic growth and achieving broader export targets.
