Express Industry bets big on 'Make in India' and e-Commerce

The industry is expectedly offering employment opportunity to 1.7 million people in the country. 

At a seminar organized by, Express Industry Council of India (EICI), titled “Delivering Opportunities for ‘Make in India’ and e-Commerce” in New Delhi, the industry voiced that the next phase of growth is likely to come with the implementation of Goods and Services Tax (GST) and allowing exports through the courier channels.

E-commerce has become an important platform for micro and small manufactueres/exporters and the rapid progress made by both e-Commerce and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) has opened new vistas for the EDS industry for handling non-document shipments.

Minister of State for Finance Shri Jayant Sinha, key people from revenue and customs department, India Post, ecommerce players and SME’s participated and attended the seminar along with leading players from the express industry.

Ease of doing business i.e movement of shipments within the country and outside was cited as the biggest impediment for the express industry. Central and state legislations governing goods transportation have not kept pace with the explosive growth of e-Commerce and due to the absence of uniform taxation policies between states, e-Commerce shipments face significant hurdles while delivery, consequently impacting the EDS players.

Speaking at the event, R K Saboo, Chairman, Express Industry Council of India (EICI) said, “The industry is not seeking tax breaks and sops, but simplification of procedures. We believe the expected GST regulations have the ability to standardize legislations and smoothen out operations. However, a definitive road map for the implementation of GST may provide significant immediate relief to issues associated with inter-state commerce. We also want the government to give a special focus on exports from small and medium enterprises as part of their ‘Make in India’ initiative.”