**Executive Summary:**
This document outlines the Indian government's E-Commerce Export Hubs (ECEHs) initiative, designed to facilitate cross-border e-commerce exports, especially for SMEs and artisans, by reducing costs and streamlining processes. The initiative includes infrastructural development, simplified customs and logistics, and partnerships with e-commerce platforms and logistics providers. Five ECEH pilot projects have been proposed, and Trade Notice No. 142025 was issued on 22.08.2024, inviting proposals for these pilots.
**Key Points / Main Content:**
* **E-Commerce Export Hubs (ECEHs) Initiative:**
* Aims to support SMEs, artisans, and small businesses in cross-border e-commerce exports.
* Focuses on reducing logistics costs and time.
* Streamlines regulatory processes.
* Simplifies re-imports for e-commerce returns.
* Provides integrated services at a single location: customs clearance, quality certification, packaging, and off-port warehousing.
* Pilot projects proposed, with Trade Notice No. 142025 issued on 22.08.2024.
* **Streamlining Customs, Logistics, and Compliance:**
* Chapter 9 of FTP 2023 promotes cross-border trade in the digital economy.
* The Trade Connect ePlatform facilitates access to international trade-related information.
* Niryat Bandhu programmes and e-commerce export handbooks provide outreach.
* CBIC Notification No. 23/2023-Customs increased courier export value limit to ₹10 lakh.
* Duty Drawback and RoDTEP extended to courier-mode exports from 12.09.2024.
* Dak Ghar Niryat Kendras (DNKs) assist exporters with documentation and compliance (1,013 notified).
* International Tracked Packet Service covers 41 countries with volume-based discounts.
* RBI proposes procedural relaxations for small-value exporters under EDPMS, allowing AD banks to close shipping bills up to ₹10 lakh based on quarterly declarations.
* **Partnerships and Implementation:**
* Some ECEHs will be implemented by logistics service providers.
* MOUs and LOIs established with global e-commerce platforms and domestic logistics providers.
* Partnerships aim to build awareness, enhance export readiness, and promote cross-border e-commerce for MSMEs.
* DGFT Regional Authorities are conducting outreach and capacity-building programs.
**Impact Analysis**
* **SMEs, Artisans, and Small Businesses:**
* *Impact:* Reduced costs and time in logistics, streamlined regulatory processes, and simplified re-imports. Increased access to global markets through e-commerce.
* *Action Required:* Utilize ECEHs for exports, participate in outreach programs, and familiarize themselves with new export procedures.
* **Logistics Service Providers:**
* *Impact:* Opportunity to implement and operate ECEHs, providing integrated services.
* *Action Required:* Collaborate with the government in establishing and managing ECEHs, ensuring integrated delivery of services.
* **Global E-Commerce Platforms and Domestic Logistics Providers:**
* *Impact:* Partnership opportunities to build awareness, enhance export readiness, and promote cross-border e-commerce.
* *Action Required:* Engage in collaborative initiatives to support MSMEs, build awareness, and facilitate cross-border e-commerce.
* **Authorised Dealer (AD) Banks:**
* *Impact:* Procedural relaxations for small-value exporters under EDPMS, reducing compliance burden.
* *Action Required:* Implement the proposed circular by RBI, allowing closure of shipping bills up to ₹10 lakh based on quarterly declarations from exporters.
* **Department of Posts:**
* *Impact:* Key role in assisting exporters through Dak Ghar Niryat Kendras (DNKs).
* *Action Required:* Maintain and expand the network of DNKs, providing assistance with documentation, packaging, and regulatory compliance.
Key Entities Referenced
ECommerce Export Hubs (ECEHs): An initiative by the Indian government to provide dedicated zones for facilitating cross-border e-commerce exports from India.
Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) 2023: A policy by the Government of India that provides for the promotion of cross border trade in the digital economy.
Trade Connect ePlatform: An online platform (https:trade.gov.in) launched to provide small exporters with access to international trade-related information.
Niryat Bandhu: A program and handbooks focused on outreach and education regarding e-commerce exports.
Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC): An Indian governmental body which enhanced the value limit for courier exports.
Dak Ghar Niryat Kendras (DNKs): Centers established by the Department of Posts in coordination with CBIC to assist exporters with documentation, packaging, and regulatory compliance.
Reserve Bank of India (RBI): The central bank of India, which issued a draft circular proposing procedural relaxations for small-value exporters under the Export Data Processing and Monitoring System (EDPMS).
Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT): An agency of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India, responsible for implementing the Foreign Trade Policy. They issued Trade Notice No. 142025 dated 22.08.2024 related to ECEH pilots.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY
(DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE)
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2605
ANSWERED ON 05/08/2025
E-COMMERCE EXPORT HUBS
2605. DR. VINOD KUMAR BIND:
SHRI DAMODAR AGRAWAL:
SHRI PRAVEEN PATEL:
SHRI ALOK SHARMA:
SMT. SHOBHANABEN MAHENDRASINH BARAIYA:
SHRI PRATAP CHANDRA SARANGI:
MS. BANSURI SWARAJ:
Will the Minister of COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (वाणिज्य एव ं उद्योग मंत्री) be pleased
to state:
(a) the key objectives of the E-Commerce Export Hubs (ECEHs) initiative and the manner
it aims to facilitate exports by Indian SMEs and artisans;
(b) the measures being taken to enable digital and physical infrastructure necessary for
scaling e-commerce exports under the initiative;
(c) whether any specific steps are being undertaken to streamline customs, logistics, and
compliance processes for small exporters under the initiative, if so, the details thereof; and
(d) whether any partnerships with global e-commerce platforms or domestic logistics
providers have been established to support the implementation of this initiative, if so, the details
thereof?
ANSWER
वाणिज्य और उद्योग मंत्रालय में राज्य मंत्री (श्री जितिन प्रसाद)
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
(SHRI JITIN PRASADA)
(a) & (b) The E-Commerce Export Hubs (ECEHs) initiative, aims to provide dedicated
zones for facilitating cross-border e-commerce exports from India. The objective is to support
SMEs, artisans, and small businesses by reducing the cost and time associated with logistics,
streamlining regulatory processes, and simplifying re-imports for e-commerce returns or
1rejects. ECEHs shall provide integrated services at a single location, encompassing customs
clearance, quality certification, packaging, and off-port warehousing.
DGFT has issued Trade Notice No. 14/2025 dated 22.08.2024, inviting detailed proposals for
these pilots. Five ECEH pilot projects have been proposed for implementation.
(c) Yes, the Government has undertaken several steps to streamline customs, logistics, and
compliance procedures for small exporters, particularly in the context of e-commerce exports:
• Chapter 9 of the Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) 2023 provides for the promotion of cross-
border trade in the digital economy.
• The Trade Connect ePlatform (https://trade.gov.in) has been launched to provide small
exporters with access to international trade-related information. It integrates inputs
from Indian Missions, Export Promotion Councils, and Commodity Boards. Outreach
through Niryat Bandhu programmes and handbooks on e-commerce exports have also
been undertaken.
• The CBIC, via Notification No. 23/2023-Customs dated 31.03.2023, enhanced the
value limit for courier exports to ₹10 lakh. Export duty remissions such as Duty
Drawback and RoDTEP have been extended to courier-mode exports from 12.09.2024.
• The Department of Posts, in coordination with CBIC, has established Dak Ghar Niryat
Kendras (DNKs) to assist exporters with documentation, packaging, and regulatory
compliance. A total of 1,013 DNKs have been notified. The International Tracked
Packet Service covers 41 countries, with volume-based discounts to benefit small
exporters.
• Further, the Reserve Bank of India has issued a draft circular proposing procedural
relaxations for small-value exporters under the Export Data Processing and Monitoring
System (EDPMS). The circular shall enable Authorised Dealer (AD) banks to close
shipping bills up to ₹10 lakh based on quarterly declarations from exporters confirming
realisation and value adjustments, thereby reducing compliance burden and
streamlining reconciliation for small consignments.
(d) Yes, some of the proposed ECEHs are to be implemented directly by logistics service
providers to ensure integrated delivery of warehousing, packaging, and regulatory facilitation.
In addition, the Government has entered into Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) and signed
Letters of Intent (LoIs) with key stakeholders, including global e-commerce platforms and
domestic logistics providers. These partnerships focus on building awareness, enhancing
export readiness, and promoting cross-border e-commerce, particularly among MSMEs.
Regional Authorities of DGFT have also conducted outreach and capacity-building programs
in collaboration with these entities to support the onboarding of SME sellers and familiarise
them with export procedures.
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