IAMAI launches E-Commerce Council of India to strengthen digital commerce policy

NEW DELHI: India’s e-commerce players are getting a new common cart, this time for policy rather than products. Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) has launched the E-Commerce Council of India (ECCI), a national industry platform that aims to bring together businesses, policymakers and other stakeholders to shape the future of the country’s fast-growing digital commerce sector.

The newly formed council includes a broad cross-section of digital commerce companies, including Amazon, Flipkart, Swiggy, Eternal, IndiaMART, MakeMyTrip, Ixigo, Uber, Rapido, Shiprocket, Transport Corporation of India, eBay, Meesho and Tata 1mg.

According to IAMAI, the council will serve as a platform for policy advocacy, research and industry engagement across key areas including e-commerce, cross-border trade, logistics, mobility, travel technology, MSME enablement, digital payments, consumer trust and artificial intelligence.

Speaking at the launch, economist Laveesh Bhandari said the next stage of India’s e-commerce growth would depend as much on collaboration as innovation.

“The next phase of growth for India’s e-commerce sector will depend not just on innovation, but also on collaboration. The industry must come together and speak in a common voice on key policy issues. Such a move will enable more informed policymaking, greater regulatory certainty, and a conducive business environment that supports sustainable growth while delivering greater value to consumers, sellers and the broader economy,” he said.

IAMAI noted that India’s digital commerce ecosystem has evolved well beyond online retail to encompass marketplaces, mobility services, travel technology, logistics, digital payments, direct-to-consumer brands, exporters and AI-powered commerce. The association said this expanding ecosystem requires a more structured framework for dialogue between industry and government.

Outlining the council’s objectives, Internet and Mobile Association of India president Subho Ray said, “Digital commerce has become one of the defining pillars of India’s digital economy. It is transforming how businesses operate, how consumers access products and services, and how Indian enterprises participate in domestic and global markets. The next phase of growth will depend on sustained collaboration between industry and government to build an ecosystem that is innovative, trusted and globally competitive.”

He added, “The E-Commerce Council of India has been established with this vision. It will serve as a collaborative platform for industry stakeholders to engage with policymakers, generate research, develop best practices and contribute to policy discussions that shape the future of digital commerce in India.”

As part of its long-term agenda, the council also plans to launch the annual Indian E-Commerce Summit (IECS), bringing together representatives from government, industry, academia and the global digital commerce community to discuss emerging trends, regulatory developments and the future of digital trade. With policy becoming increasingly central to India’s digital economy, the new council aims to give the industry a unified voice while fostering greater collaboration with policymakers.