New Delhi, November 5, 2025: The 2nd Asia-Pacific E-commerce Policy Summit concluded in New Delhi yesterday, focusing on shaping the region’s digital trade and e-commerce agenda. Organised by the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER) and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), with support from the Startup India, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Government of India, the two-day summit brought together policymakers, business leaders, and experts from across the Asia-Pacific region to strengthen collaboration for inclusive, paperless, and sustainable cross-border commerce. MSL, Amazon and the Express Industry Council of India joined as Knowledge Partners.

Building on the success of its inaugural edition in 2024, the Summit has emerged as a premier platform for advancing policy dialogue on digital trade, paperless commerce, and MSME integration into global value chains, reinforcing India’s role in fostering inclusive and technology-driven growth across the region.

Dr. Sasmit Patra, Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha, in his keynote address, said, “E-commerce must become a two-way street, connecting India’s villages to global markets. Its true power lies in enabling livelihoods, empowering women, and ensuring inclusion through interoperability and innovation. Democratizing FinTech and data governance will be key to building an equitable digital trade ecosystem.” 

He also highlighted that policy should make it easier for MSMEs to start exporting through innovative models such as allowing intermediaries to hold inventories on behalf of MSMEs for exports.

Ms. Caralyn Khongwar Deshmukh, Additional Secretary, Department of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India, in her special address, stated, “E-commerce platforms have become vital gateways to sustainable livelihoods. By removing layers of intermediaries and geographical barriers, digital marketplaces empower sellers to reach customers directly, set competitive prices, and retain a greater share of income.”

Dr. Shekhar Aiyar, Director & CE, ICRIER, in his welcome address, stated, “The Asia-Pacific E-Commerce Policy Summit is a timely opportunity to bring together policymakers, industry leaders, and experts to shape the future of digital trade in our region. As the APAC economy continues to drive global growth, our focus must be on making this progress inclusive, empowering women, MSMEs, and marginalised communities to participate fully in digital and cross-border trade. I look forward to two days of meaningful dialogue that will help build a more resilient and digitally empowered trade ecosystem.” 

Mr. Pramod Bhasin, Chairman, ICRIER, during his address said, “As India advances toward its vision of Viksit Bharat@2047, trade, technology, and skills will shape the next phase of our growth story. The Asia-Pacific region must work together to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 17, which calls for stronger partnerships across nations. The Second Asia-Pacific E-Commerce Policy Summit is an opportunity to build these partnerships, foster trust in digital trade, and create pathways for inclusive growth. With India emerging as one of the fastest-growing e-commerce markets, collaboration across governments and businesses will be key to driving innovation, enabling MSMEs, and empowering women to participate fully in global trade.”

The Summit included participation from senior policymakers and representatives from the region like H.E. Mrs. Chea Ratha (Secretary, Royal Government of Cambodia) and H.E. Mr. Nicholas McCaffrey (Charge De Affairs, Australian High Commission, India) and Dr. Yann Duval (Chief, Trade Policy and Facilitation Section, UNESCAP) and thought leaders across the region who discussed strategies to boost cross-border e-commerce, enhance digital inclusion, and strengthen resilient trade networks. The discussions focused on deepening cooperation between public and private sectors to drive MSME participation and align the region’s digital economy with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). MSME representatives also shared how platforms like Amazon through Global Selling program are enabling Indian entrepreneurs and small business to cater to international customers through the use of technology.

Two landmark publications were launched during the summit:

• ICRIER–RIS Joint Study Report, ‘India and the Framework Agreement on Cross-Border Paperless Trade in Asia and the Pacific (CPTA): State of Play and Way Forward’, authored by Dr. Arpita Mukherjee, Professor, Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER), Dr. Prabir De is Professor, Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS), Mr Tahseen Ahmad Khan, Member, Advisory Committee, UNNExT and
• Preview of Amazon Global Selling’s Exports Digest 2025, spotlighting the rapidly growing contribution of Indian MSMEs to global e-commerce exports.

Mr. Srinidhi Kalvapudi, Head of India Global Selling, Amazon India, said: “India’s export strengths and manufacturing hubs—from established clusters in Gujarat and Tamil Nadu to emerging centers in smaller towns—are helping Indian brands and MSMEs reach customers worldwide. Between 2015 and 2025, Amazon has enabled over $20 billion in cumulative e-commerce exports from India, and we’re now aiming for $80 billion by 2030. Global demand for ‘Made in India’ products is growing fast across categories like health and personal care, home décor, apparel, and toys. At the Asia-Pacific E-commerce Policy Summit, we’re collaborating with policymakers and industry leaders to strengthen India’s export ecosystem by simplifying global selling and expanding reach beyond metros.” 

Over two days, the Summit featured seven thematic sessions and high-level policy dialogues, addressing the most critical dimensions of the region’s digital trade transformation:

• High-Level Policy Dialogue on “Digital Empowerment of Women: Connecting Them to Regional and Global Value Chains” hosted by UNESCAP, featuring ministers and senior officials from Bhutan, India, Nepal and Sri Lanka.
• Panel on Enabling Seller Growth in APAC’s E-commerce Ecosystem, exploring logistics innovation, digital literacy, and MSME access to cross-border markets, with participation from Amazon, the Australian High Commission, Cambodia and India’s Ministry of Textiles.
• Panel on Unlocking Investment Opportunities in Technology and Trade, focusing on AI, blockchain, and digital infrastructure financing, with experts from the Ministry of External Affairs, Govt. of India and the Korea Trade Network (KTNET).
• Panel on Cross-Border Paperless Trade featuring the release of the ICRIER–RIS CPTA Report, outlining frameworks for seamless regional trade integration.
• Plenary on Collaborating for Growth: Enabling Women Empowerment, highlighting inclusive frameworks for women entrepreneurs across APAC.
• Panel on Building Consumer Trust Through Secure Cross-Border Payments led by experts from India, South Korea and Thailand and UN.
• Panel on AI Regulation and Its Impact on Digital Trade featuring voices from Amazon, the World Bank, and Northeastern University, USA.

Dignitaries from more than 12 countries, including Australia, Bhutan, Cambodia, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam, participated in the Summit alongside senior Indian government representatives from the Ministry of Textiles, Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), and NITI Aayog.

The Summit was designed to promote actionable cooperation between governments, international organisations, and industry stakeholders to accelerate digital trade integration in Asia-Pacific. It also sought to create frameworks that make trade more efficient, transparent, and inclusive positioning India as a key bridge for digital connectivity across the region.

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29^th September 2025 | Bengaluru: E-commerce order volumes saw a 21% year-on-year increase during the first six days of the festive season, according to an analysis by Unicommerce, India’s leading e-commerce enablement SaaS platform. The comparison accounts for the corresponding six-day period last year (starting 26 September 2024), with this year’s sale period which began on different dates across platforms.

This analysis is based on over 40 million transactions processed by Unicommerce’s flagship platform Uniware, during the first festive sale week in both years.

According to the data, quick commerce order items surged significantly, recording over 85% growth in volumes during the first week of the festive season sale. This highlights the growing consumer preference for faster delivery, positioning quick commerce as a key growth driver in this year’s festive sales.

The key categories that drove overall growth during this period included FMCG—led by healthy foods, followed by beauty & wellness, health & pharma—which saw a strong demand for nutraceuticals & supplements, electronics—fueled by increased sales of home appliances, and home decor products.

With integrations across sales channels, brands ensured product availability across multiple touchpoints. Brand websites recorded a 31% increase in volumes, predominantly driven by the beauty and wellness segment, including makeup, personal care, and hygiene products. The fashion category, primarily led by apparel and jewellery, also recorded strong growth.

Tier II and III cities continued to drive a significant share of order volumes, collectively accounting for around 58% of the total festive transactions during the first festive week.

As per the analysis, while metros and tier I cities recorded a 22% increase in order volumes, tier II and tier III cities together registered a 20% growth, compared to the corresponding period last year. The steady year-on-year increase in order volumes from Tier II & III cities also highlights the growing significance of these towns in driving festive season demand.

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NCH’s digital initiatives have expanded its reach, with call volumes rising from 12,553 in 2015 to over 1.5 lakh in 2024, and complaint registrations surging through WhatsApp. The helpline now partners with 1,131 companies to ensure faster redressal and shares real-time complaint data for quick resolutions. Integrated WhatsApp services and a new feedback mechanism further streamline grievance handling, strengthening consumer protection and promoting fair trade practices nationwide.

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Bengaluru, December 12, 2024: Protean eGov Technologies Limited (BSE: PROTEAN, formerly NSDL e-Governance Infrastructure Limited), a technology leader in Digital Public Infrastructure and a pioneer in developing innovative citizen–centric e-Governance solutions, achieves yet another milestone, by powering ONDC-Compliant e-Commerce feature on Waves – an OTT platform launched by Prasar Bharati.

This ONDC -Compliant Buyer application, powered by Protean, will enable Waves’ users to browse and buy products, across categories live on the ONDC network, while enjoying their favourite movies or TV shows. This is the first time in India that an OTT player has integrated commerce experience with content, to make it a seamless experience for its users.

Speaking on this launch, Suresh Sethi, MD & CEO, Protean eGov Technologies said, “We are committed towards our efforts in accelerating the Digital India mission and empowering the adoption of ONDC across the country. Today’s digital consumer is constantly seeking newer services that makes life convenient and easy, and OTT has brought about that transformation in content viewing. With over 597Mn subscribers in India in the OTT space today, the opportunity to mix entertainment and shopping has never been bigger, to boost both engagement and ecommerce experience. The success of this pioneering initiative has immense potential to democratize ecommerce and building a level playing field for entities across sectors.” 

Adding to it, Mr. T. Koshy, MD & CEO, ONDC said, “Integrating e-commerce into an OTT platform like WAVES is a milestone for India’s digital ecosystem. With the ONDC Network already driving innovation across domains such as multi-modal mobility, this latest initiative disrupts the OTT space by creating a unified experience where entertainment meets commerce. WAVES allows users to watch their favourite content while seamlessly discovering and purchasing products. The ONDC Network enables this transformation by connecting sellers from across the country with consumers directly. It’s an exciting moment as it showcases the potential of interoperable digital systems to not only enhance user experience but also provide unparalleled opportunities for businesses across all industries. WAVES sets a precedent for the convergence of technology, culture, and commerce, paving the way for future innovations.” 

Speaking on this, Shri Sanjay Rakesh, MD & CEO, CSC SPV, said, “We are proud to collaborate with Protean eGov Technologies and Prasar Bharati on this ground breaking initiative that seamlessly combines entertainment with e-commerce. At CSC, our mission is rooted in empowering rural communities and marginalized groups through digital inclusion, ensuring they have access to essential services and opportunities. This unique integration on the Waves platform underscores the transformative power of digital public infrastructure, bringing technology closer to millions in rural India and creating avenues for digital empowerment.”

Protean is the Technology Service Provider (TSP) for ONDC-powered Buyer application on Waves. As the TSP, Protean will handle all future enhancements (as per ONDC requirements) and the technological maintenance of the Shop interface within the application, to ensure a convenient user interface and a seamless user experience for Waves’ users.

Protean eGov Technologies has been a significant player in India’s digital infrastructure, contributing significantly to the development of Open Digital Ecosystems (ODEs). Protean is already contributing to the ONDC Network by powering its gateway & registry and has been providing innovative ready to use SaaS and PaaS solutions like Uniconnect a digital bridge that connects existing applications with the ONDC Network, Reconciliation & Settlement Framework which allows secure, transparent and seamless fund settlements, between network participants and ready to use Multi Domain Buyer and Seller Applications for faster GTM to enterprises who wish to expose their customer base to the ONDC Network.

ONDC has crossed the 50 million transaction mark. The platform continues to grow rapidly, with monthly transactions reaching around 10 million in recent months and is projected to grow to a whopping 30% of the ecommerce GMV and the number of transactions on ONDC is expected to exceed USD 12 Bn by 2030.

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~ Received demand for 1500 orders items/minute during Black Friday sale weekend~

~ Fashion and Beauty & Personal Care led demand, Uptick in Eyewear and FMCG ~

~ Tier III markets lead growth with 43% increase in volumes ~

Mumbai, 28 November, 2023: The global shopping phenomenon, Black Friday, continues to make waves in India. Unicommerce, one of India’s leading e-commerce enablement SaaS platforms, based on the orders processed on its platform, conducted an analysis of the Black Friday weekend, revealing a sharp 23% increase in e-commerce order volumes as compared to the Black Friday sale weekend of 2022.

Black Friday, traditionally an American retail tradition, has firmly cemented its place in the Indian market as a major e-commerce sale event, with consumers extending their post-Diwali shopping spree to benefit from Black Friday and related sales like Cyber Monday etc.

While during the Diwali festive sales, marketplace growth outpaced D2C brands, the trend was reversed during the Black Friday weekend. During the Black Friday weekend, brand websites reported robust growth, with order volumes rising by 28% during the weekend. The marketplaces reported a relatively lower growth of 19%. The growing popularity of Black Friday has made it a crucial sales period for both online marketplaces and individual brands in India.

The Black Friday weekend brought cheers for online sellers – over 8.5 million order items demand received on the Unicommerce platform during the 2023 Black Friday sale weekend. Unicommerce received an average of 1500 orders of item demand every minute. More than 10 sellers received demand for over 100,000 orders items during the four-day weekend, and over 100 sellers received demand for more than 10,000 orders items through the Unicommerce platform.

The Black Friday surge was not limited to metro cities alone, The Tier III cities reported the highest growth of 43%, followed by 19% growth for Tier I cities and 16% in Tier II cities.

Fashion and beauty products maintained their status as the dominant categories during the Black Friday sale, continuing to attract a significant portion of consumer interest. Additionally, there was a noticeable uptick in volumes for FMCG and eyewear segments, indicating a diversification in consumer preferences during the sale season.

The platform witnessed brands across segments processing their e-commerce orders through its platform to seamlessly manage the spike in order volumes and great shopping experience to consumers.

Unicommerce’s e-commerce enablement Software-as-a-Service (“SaaS”) platform enables end-to-end management of e-commerce operations for marketplaces, brands, sellers and logistics service provider firms.

Disclaimer: The aforesaid analysis is based on orders processed by Unicommerce eSolutions Private Limited (“Company”) may not be indicative of actual trends of industry, and are subject to external factors beyond the control of the Company. The information in this report does not constitute financial advice (nor investment, tax, accounting or legal advice), and recipients shall rely on its independent assessment of industry outlook. Past performance information in this report should not be relied upon as an indication of (and is not an indicator of) future performance of any of the products or categories.

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Commodity trader Ravi Agrawal along with others have raised equity stake in Infibeam Avenues to 9.05 percent on August 19, 2020.

Agrawal, along with persons acting in concert have acquired additional equity shares of 3,76,109 resulting in an acquisition of total 6,00,60,010 representing 9.05 percent of the total paid-up equity capital of Infibeam) as of August 23, 2020, Infibeam said in a BSE filing.

As a result, their shareholding in digital payment and e-commerce technology Platform Company has increased from 7.11 percent to 9.5 percent.

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