Wide stakeholder consultations needed to frame national e-comm policy: Govt to Parl
government told Parliament on Wednesday that e-commerce is an emerging and dynamic sector, and wide stakeholder consultations are required for formulation of a national policy on the sector.
Minister of state for commerce and industry Som Parkash said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha that a draft e-commerce policy was placed in public domain on February 23, 2019 for public consultations.
“Suggestions have been received from various stakeholders.
Since e-commerce is an emerging and dynamic sector, wide stakeholder consultations are required for formulation of National e-Commerce Policy,” he said.
The FDI policy, Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999; Consumer Protection Act, 2019; Competition Act, 2002; and Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007 are some of the legislative and policy measures for streamlining and regulating e-commerce industry in the country.
Provisions of the Competition Act are applicable in respect of e- commerce platforms as provided in Section 3 (Anti-competitive Agreements), Section 4 (Abuse of dominant position) and Section 5 and Section 6 (Mergers and Acquisitions).
Startup action plan
The government has recognised 1,14,902 entities as startups as on October 31, Parliament was informed on Wednesday.
These eligible firms are allowed to seek fiscal incentives under the Startup India Action Plan, which was launched in January 2016, and that includes income tax exemption for three years.
Commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal told the Lok Sabha said the action plan includes 19 items spanning across areas such as simplification and handholding, funding support and incentives and industry-academia partnership and incubation.
Export demand
Minister of state for commerce and industry
