Enforce FDI policy in e-com in letter and spirit: CAIT to Indian govt

India’s foreign immediate expense (FDI) coverage in the e-commerce sector ought to be enforced in letter and spirit so that worldwide gamers do not violate rules, according to the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), whose secretary common Praveen Khandelwal not long ago lifted the issue at a meeting referred to as by the Division for Advertising of Sector and Inner Trade (DPIIT) to focus on FDI in e-commerce.

The existing coverage, which makes it possible for cent per cent FDI in market e-commerce platforms and prohibits FDI in inventory-dependent model of e-commerce, is totally right and in line with government’s intent to safeguard modest retailers, he mentioned.

Thanks to creative interpretations about the connection among market and sellers, worldwide organizations are controlling either the sellers on their platform or their inventory, he was quoted as declaring by a information agency.

“The handle of foreign market platform entities, about the sellers on their platform, allows them to do anti-competitive practices these kinds of as predatory pricing and deep discounting by means of capital dumping that has led to closure of a huge variety of modest retailers/ kiranas primary to career reduction for lakhs of individuals each thirty day period,” he mentioned.

CAIT has time and again alleged that huge multinational e-commerce organizations have continued to indulge in prohibited inventory-dependent model of e-commerce by immediate and oblique handle about the seller’s or inventory.

He also mentioned the government ought to have the ideal to search for info and audit the accounts of the entities involved in e-commerce.

“An unbiased regulatory overall body ought to be constituted to control the sector and get immediate motion on violations these kinds of as deep discounting, preferential preparations with sellers, discriminatory therapies,” he mentioned.

The meeting was also attended by representatives of Shops Association of India (RAI) and All India Shopper Merchandise Distributions Federation. It was chaired by DPIIT secretary Guruprasad Mohapatra.

In a statement, RAI mentioned the FDI rules relevant to retail ought to be the exact throughout channels and formats of retail to facilitate shopper knowledge and current market harmony.

“There is a need to have to support modernisation of retail in the country, particularly considering that it indicates elevated work and increased contribution to the country’s GDP,” it mentioned.

Meanwhile, CAIT submitted its tips for the proposed nationwide e-commerce coverage in a representation to commerce and business minister Piyush Goyal.

According to CAIT, the coverage should involve provision for setting up of an e-commerce regulator getting enforcement/ adjudicatory powers.

“Past encounters advise that issues are produced at a related phase against escalating e-commerce platforms, nevertheless, inaction on the component of the regulators lead to these kinds of gamers escalating so huge that their anti-competitive business designs turn into the norm of the current market. Consequently, the framework to be laid down should comprise a timely dispute redressal mechanism,” it additional.

Further, CAIT mentioned there is a pressing need to have to preserve and assure non-discriminatory nature of e-commerce market platforms.

There is also a requirement for enacting a knowledge security regulation to assure that knowledge gathered by e-commerce operators is processed and managed in India and is not applied to the detriment of shoppers, it famous.

Fibre2Fashion Information Desk (DS)

India’s foreign immediate expense (FDI) coverage in the e-commerce sector ought to be enforced in letter and spirit so that worldwide gamers do not violate rules, according to the Confederation of All India Traders, which not long ago lifted the issue at a meeting referred to as by the Division for Advertising of Sector and Inner Trade to focus on FDI in e-commerce.