Mumbai investigation reveals strategies for India Post to bolster small businesses' export capabilities in the face of US tariff obstacles

In a significant development for the Indian export industry, India Post's global logistics initiative has been praised as a "game-changer" by Mukund Puranik, a corporate commercial lawyer. This initiative, aimed at reducing logistics costs and enhancing competitiveness, was the focus of an interactive session hosted by the World Trade Centre Mumbai and All India Association of Industries (AIAI) on Wednesday.

Vijay Kalantri, Chairman of the World Trade Centre, Mumbai, emphasised the need for businesses, especially MSMEs and startups, to leverage India Post's global logistics network for international exports. He highlighted opportunities in Africa, Latin America, GCC countries, and CIS nations, and advised exporters to diversify beyond one or two countries, suggesting this as a temporary phase.

The initiative includes free pickup services, dedicated software, and enhanced manpower to support exporters. India Post has established in-house customs and drug control offices in Mumbai to enable faster processing. The 'Dakghar Niryat Kendra', a facilitation centre that assists with documentation and compliance, is one of the services India Post highlighted during the session.

Amitabh Singh, Chief Postmaster General of the Maharashtra Circle, stated that these centres provide free services, including assistance with obtaining import-export codes and completing documentation. India Post's logistics services, delivering to 130 countries at a lower cost, will have both short-term and long-term impacts, according to Puranik.

Shekhar Vichare, an organic agro-exporter, believes the initiative has the potential to meet the demands of the Indian diaspora abroad, particularly for processed and fresh foods. Small quantities have been a challenge in catering to the global demand for Indian foods, but India Post's support for small consignments, even as little as 35 kg, is seen as a great opportunity by Vichare.

The initiative also comes at a time when Puranik expressed optimism about resolving tariff disputes with the US, citing India's measured response and support from the EU and other nations. The government's efforts to enhance competitiveness, including GST reductions and the signing of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with the UK, Australia, and ongoing negotiations with the European Union, are also expected to contribute to the growth of the export sector.

India Post is expanding its global partnerships with postal services in over 130 countries to improve visibility and efficiency in logistics. The specific list of the 130 countries in which the Global partnerships of India Post are located is not provided in the available search results. However, the initiative is expected to significantly boost India's presence in the global export market and provide a much-needed boost to small exporters.