Kolkata, New Delhi, INDIA. New York, USA.
Business To Business, New Delhi, 24th July, 2026: The government's decision to relax foreign direct investment (FDI) norms for export-oriented e-commerce is expected to benefit large American companies and could pave the way for broader liberalisation of India's online retail sector, think tank Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) said on Thursday.
Earlier in the day, the government permitted FDI in the inventory-based e-commerce model exclusively for export purposes, allowing foreign-funded firms to operate such platforms provided they are solely engaged in exports.
Under the revised policy, companies will be required to export goods that are manufactured or produced in India, with the move aimed at boosting the country's outbound shipments while safeguarding the interests of domestic small retailers.
According to GTRI, the policy change could encourage greater participation by global e-commerce players in India's export ecosystem and may signal a gradual opening of the country's online retail market, even as restrictions on inventory-based e-commerce for domestic sales remain unchanged.