The advent of e-commerce has shifted the locus of retail business in both the global and domestic context by bringing the store to the customer, obviating the need for customers to visit the store. Aided by a thriving digital economy with Rs 500 million internet users, India’s e-commerce sector recorded the second-highest year-on-year growth at 31.9 percent across countries in 2019. In 2017, India’s e-commerce sector was valued at $24 billion, representing 3 percent of total retail sales.

Publication: Business Standard

Date: February 8, 2020

Over the past few years, the city of Hyderabad has shot to international fame. From IKEA’s first India store to Amazon’s largest campus in the world, Hyderabad has been the go-to destination for many global corporate giants, especially technology companies In fact, in the second half of 2019, Hyderabad raced ahead of Bengaluru in terms of office space absorption. According to a Knight Frank report, the Hyderabad office market saw great demand in 2019, accounting for 12.8 million sq ft in terms of transactions, nearly twice its previous annual high. Hyderabad was also at the top spot as the best city to live in as per the Mercer’s Quality of Living (India) Rankings 2019. Hyderabad was also selected among the ...HyderabadIKEA

Amazon has infused over Rs 2,500 crore into two of its Indian businesses, Amazon Seller Services and Amazon Data Services India, according to regulatory filings.The investment comes just days after its founder and the world’s richest man Jeff Bezos announced USD 1 billion investment in digitising small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the country. An e-mail sent to the company did not elicit a response.As per regulatory documents sourced from business intelligence platform paper.vc, the board of Amazon Seller Services has allotted shares worth about Rs 2,208 crore to Amazon Corporate Holdings and Amazon.com Inc. The resolution to this effect was approved on January 24.

Publication: The Economic Times

Date: February 8, 2020

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday underlined the need for working together to make India a $5 trillion economy, while stressing that the government has been able to maintain macro-economic stability amid a tough global environment. “We have taken many initiatives in industry, irrigation, social infrastructure, rural infrastructure, ports, and waterways. Among the things that will drive India’s progress is next-generation infrastructure,” Modi said adding that Stand-up India, Startup India, and Mudra schemes are adding prosperity in the lives of people.

Publication: Yourstory

Date: February 7, 2020

The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) under the Commerce Ministry is examining complaints alleging predatory pricing and excessive discounts on e-commerce platforms, Parliament was informed on Thursday.”Representations have been received in this Department alleging that some e-commerce platforms are engaged in predatory pricing and are providing excessive discounts,” Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal told the Lok Sabha in a written reply.”The extant Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) policy on e-commerce sector, inter-alia, specifies that e-commerce marketplaces will not directly or indirectly influence the sale price of goods or services and shall maintain a level playing field. These representations are under examination,” he said.

Publication: Outlook India

Date: February 7, 2020

The Union finance minister presented Budget 2020 in Parliament on 1 February against the backdrop of a slowing economy at home and globally. It was indeed a tough balancing act for the government amid high expectations from all stakeholders. Keeping the multiple demands in mind, the budget is woven around the three key themes of an ‘aspirational India’, ‘economic development’ and a ‘caring society’, with an aim to stimulate growth, simplify tax structure and bring ease of compliance and doing business in India.

Publication: Mint

Date: February 7, 2020

While e-tailers may have done well for themselves in segments such as apparel and smartphones, they are yet to strike gold with the furniture category. According to RedSeer Consulting, the online furniture market in India grew at a CAGR of approximately 80-85% to reach approximately $310 million in FY19 as compared to $104 million in FY17, and is likely to touch $700 million in FY20. But despite this rapid growth, online has less than 3% share in the overall furniture market which is pegged at $17 billion.

Publication: Financial Express

Date: February 10, 2020