Commerce Ministry proposes making its online marketplace GeM business-to-customer friendly

By

Isabelle Crossley

Published
Aug 21, 2019

The Ministry of Commerce has proposed in a cabinet note the adaptation of its online procurement platform Government e-Marketplce to allow for business-to-customer retail. The plan is to gradually transform the platform into an e-commerce site.

The move comes as the Government of India looks to expand the Indian retail market and stimulate domestic production as part of its “Make in India” campaign. “We will set a benchmark for online marketplaces,” an anonymous official told ET Bureau. “We plan to make it an ideal platform.”

Should the plan go ahead, it would be carried out in three main phases. “The final road map is under discussion...but the idea is to open up procurement to all in a phased manner,” said the official source. 

The first phase of development would allow private businesses holding government contracts to buy from the site. Then, the second phase would allow private businesses to purchase goods for their own use. Finally, the platform would be opened to the public to purchase any goods they please on the platform for private use. This would finally allow GeM to have the classic features of a multi-brand e-commerce portal. 

GeM, which was launched in 2016 to replace the previous Directorate General of Supplies and Disposal, was designed to increase transparency in government dealings. The site currently only allows central and state government departments to use it.