Exports contribute to about 20% of India’s GDP at present and mainly driven by sales of petroleum products, coffee, and mica, coal and other ores, minerals including processed minerals. With the increased penetration of internet services and rapid pace of technology adoption, exports can play a critical role in economic revival post COVID-19. E-Commerce simply helps businesses transcend boundaries and open a much larger pool of customers. Further it provides for an ease to adopt and scale mechanism for exporters or potential exporters to grow their business outside India without having any footprint locally in the foreign region and reducing dependence on intermediaries. In this view, World Trade Bhubaneswar in association with EEPC India, Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India, Directorate General of Foreign Trade and ECGC Limited organized a session on “Leveraging E-Commerce on Exports under District Export Hub initiative for Eastern Region Exporters”.

Mr. Aji Issac Mathew, Co-founder & CEO, Indus Net TechShu and DMU delivered a detailed presentation on the potential avenues of E-Commerce platforms for the exporters. He spoke about the processes involved in building the foundation of E-Commerce like KPIs and its growth architecture, strategies for utmost reach and also about various result yielding conversion strategies. He highlighted the major differences between Traditional Marketing Funnel and Digital Marketing Funnel and how the later is a more promising and practical approach. He also spoke about the key points of strategizing Digital Marketing like understanding the customers, understanding the business and the fundamentals of the same. He emphasized on the Quick Action Points like hiring a consultant or someone who can understand and validate the strategy, working on building a website and the crucial points to consider while building a website, Keyword Planning tools and their functionalities, Google ads planning, SEO research, Customer acquisition cost, Lifetime Value and the competitors.

Mr. Anand Mohan Mishra, Deputy DGFT, O/o Director General of Foreign Trade, Kolkata in his address spoke about the role of DGFT under District Export Hub Initiative. He deliberated on how the E-Commerce platforms enable us to market our products at ease on a global platform.  He spoke about the barriers exporters face on a day to day basis which needs to be addressed like the approach and infrastructural efficiency, Connectivity & Market Outreach and equality in opportunities.

Mr. Pravir Kumar, AM, ECGC Limited precisely presented on the role of ECGC Ltd in Credit Risk Management. He spoke about the mission of ECGC, terms of payment in exports, the significance of Trade Credit Insurance, types of Export Credit risks and the risks covered by ECGC. He also explained about the products offered by ECGC. In addition to that, he also spoke about the policies and covered upon crucial policies such as Shipment Comprehensive Risks Policy, Small Exporters Comprehensive Policy , Specific Shipment Policy , Exports Turnover Policy , Specific Buyer Exposures Policy , Multi Buyer Exposures Policy ,  IT-Enables Services Policy-Single Customer ,  IT-Enables Services Policy-Multi Customer , Consignment Exports Policy-Global Entity, Consignment Exports Policy-Stockholding Agents, Exports (Specific Buyers) Policy and Micro Exporters Policy.

Earlier in the session, Mr. Bhagwandas Agarwal, Regional Chairman (ER) EEPC India welcomed all the panellists and participants to the session and briefed about the role and activities of EEPC India.

The session was followed by a highly interactive Q&A Session. Ms. Anima Pandey, Regional Director (ER), & Director (Membership), EEPC India moderated the session.

Ms. Nimeshika Natarajan, Assistant Director, WTC Bhubaneswar proposed the vote of thanks