First meet of E-commerce Think Tank on 24th April, 2018

The think tank started by the government to dwell on subjects concerning e-commerce and cross-border digital trade segments will meet for the first time on 24th April, 2018 in New Delhi. 

An anonymous source revealed that the subjects that will be discoursed in the gathering will consist of online consumer protection, data localization, cross-border data flow, protection and disclosure of source code, non-discriminatory treatment of digital products and desirability of permanent moratorium on payment of customs duty on electronically transmitted goods. 

Facilitating cross-border e-commerce, online data protection and promoting paperless trading are some different subjects that might be discussed in this meet. 

Led by the Commerce and Industry Minister Suresh Prabhu, this think tank has officials from other departments like electronics and information technology, home affairs and ministries of finance. 

Telecom companies, IT and e-commerce organisations such as Reliance JIO, Makemytrip, Bharti Enterprises, Wipro, TCS and Ola and agents from Industry chambers like exporters body FIEO, CII and MSME will also join the group. 

The protection of the World Trade Organisation with the developed countries wanting an arrangement on e-commerce trade and the quick development of cross-border digital trade is an important factor in setting up this 70 member group. The main requirement of India is getting a lasting result for problems awaiting a solution, such as food security. This has to be done before discussing problems regarding e-commerce in the WTO. 

A case to discuss the problems of e-commerce policies and related issues was made by the Commerce Secretary Rita Teaotia in March of this year. 

Some of the problems the sector is dealing with are the ownership business-to-consumer e-commerce space, and the association of different organisations such as IT department, revenue, RBI, telecom and Industrial Policy. 

Source: techgig.com