Shri Piyush Goyal holds video conference with stakeholders from e-Commerce and Logistics industry;

Says the Government is committed to ensure that essential goods reach the people in the most convenient and safest manner

The Minister of Railways and Commerce & Industry Shri Piyush Goyal held a video conference with stakeholders from e-Commerce and Logistics industry on Thursday, to discuss the issues faced by them due to COVID19 lockdown and measures to resolve them. He assured the industry leaders that the Government is committed to ensure that essential goods reach the people in the most convenient and safest manner.

The meeting was attended by representatives of following e-Commerce Companies: Snapdeals, Shopclues, Flipkart, Grofers, NetMeds, PharmEasy, 1MG Tech, Udaan, Amazon India, Big Basket, Zomato.  Large Retail Operators were represented by Metro Cash & Carry, Walmart, RPG while Express Industry Council,  Delihivery,  Safexpress,  PayTM, Swiggy represented Logistics Operators.

DPIIT has been regularly engaging with retailers and e-commerce companies to ensure that the supply chain of essential goods is maintained and various facilities continue to function smoothly. As a result of efforts made by DPIIT, Ministry of Home affairs has issued standard operating procedure for State Government’s guidance on how to handle various aspects related to supply of essential goods. The Department has also set up a control room to monitor in real time the status of transportation and delivery of goods, manufacturing, delivery of essential commodities to common man and the difficulties being faced by various stakeholders during the lockdown period            

The Indian Patents Office has, in view of the lockdown, extended the date for completion of various acts, filing of replies, payment of fees, etc. This will help all those applicants for whom due date for submission of applications for patent, design and trademarks were falling during the lockdown period.

Supply chain continuity ensured through SOPs and monitoring, with extensions for patent and trademark filings. The Government committed to ensuring safe, convenient delivery of essential goods during the COVID 19 lockdown by coordinating retailers, e commerce and logistics operators, issuing standard operating procedures for State guidance, establishing a control room for real time monitoring of transport and delivery, and extending timelines for statutory acts, filings and fee payments at the Indian Patents Office for affected patent, design and trademark applicants.