Prime Minister Narendra Modi for fair competition among large, small sellers in e-commerce

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Thursday insisted on "equitable" competition between large and small sellers in the ecommerce space and sought the empowerment of small enterprises to integrate them with global supply chains.

Modi also insisted on the need to address the problems faced by consumers in fair price discovery and grievance handling mechanisms, and said digitising processes can enhance market access along with ecommerce.

"As cross-border ecommerce continues to grow, there are challenges as well. We need to work collectively to ensure equitable competition between large and small sellers," Modi said in his video address to the G-20 Meeting of Trade and Investment Ministers in Jaipur.


The prime minister said that digitising processes and use of ecommerce have the potential to enhance market access.

"I am glad that your group is working on the 'High Level Principles for the Digitalization of Trade Documents'," Modi said, adding that these principles can help countries in implementing cross-border electronic trade measures and reduce compliance burdens.

He said that more attention must be paid to MSMEs, given their key role in the global economy. MSMEs account for 60-70% of employment and contribute 50% to the global GDP.

"They need our continued support. Their empowerment translates to societal empowerment," he said, adding that MSME should mean "maximum support to micro, small and medium enterprises".

India has integrated MSMEs into public procurement through the online platform Government e-marketplace.

"We have been working with our MSME sector to adopt the ethos of 'zero defect' and 'zero effect' on the environment," Modi said, adding that increasing their participation in global trade and global value chains has been a priority of India's G-20 presidency.

"The proposed 'Jaipur Initiative to foster seamless flow of information to MSMEs' will address the challenge of inadequate access to market and business-related information faced by MSMEs. I am also confident that the upgrade of the Global Trade Help Desk will increase participation of MSMEs in global trade," Modi said. He added that as G-20, it is "our responsibility to rebuild confidence in international trade and investments".