New Delh: As India accelerates towards its ambitious $2 trillion export target, e-commerce and services exports are emerging as critical pillars of growth. India is rapidly positioning itself as a global blueprint for retail innovation, demonstrating how a dynamic multi-channel ecosystem can fuel sustained economic expansion. With online and offline channels, as well as B2C and B2B models operating in seamless harmony, the country’s retail landscape is unlocking an unprecedented $300 billion opportunity by 2030.
Against this backdrop, the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) convened the Digital Commerce Dialogue at The Leela Palace, Chanakyapuri, bringing together key stakeholders to chart the next phase of India’s digital commerce expansion.
The inaugural session set the context for India’s rapidly evolving digital commerce landscape, underscoring the scale of opportunity and the importance of coordinated action across policy, capital, technology, and logistics. With nearly 300 million online shoppers today — projected to grow to 440 million by 2030 — India’s connected commerce ecosystem is firing on all cylinders. Importantly, almost 30% of online shoppers now come from rural India, with middle-income households driving the next wave of digital consumption.
This explosive trajectory has attracted billions of dollars in investment from global players, while homegrown champions prepare to capitalize on the momentum. The convergence of traditional commerce and digital transformation is not only reshaping domestic consumption but also positioning India as a compelling model for markets worldwide.
Delivering a special address at the inaugural session, Dr. Abhay Sinha, Director General, Service Export Promotion Council, Ministry of Commerce & Industry, said, “The digital economy was valued at $402 billion and is projected to reach $1 trillion by 2030, growing at nearly twice the rate of the overall economy. Over the past decade, services exports have grown from $152 billion to $387 billion, and this momentum will be one of the most significant contributors to the $2 trillion export target set by the Government of India.
As e-commerce expands, it will not only drive retail transformation but also integrate data, payment systems, logistics, cybersecurity, and trust into a unified ecosystem. This is not an incremental shift; it is about rebalancing growth, enhancing competitiveness, and positioning India to play a much larger role in the global digital economy.”
Today’s Indian shoppers epitomize the modern, informed consumer. They move fluidly between digital screens and physical stores, making purchase decisions based on convenience, trust, choice, immediate need, transparent product information, and the freedom to transact across channels. This signals a decisive shift from purely discount-led purchasing to informed, experience-driven consumption.
An insightful report titled $300 Billion Connected Commerce: How Clicks and Bricks Are Defining the Future of India’s E-Commerce, prepared by the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) and based on a survey of more than 12,000 consumers across urban and rural India, was launched at the inaugural session. The report highlights the convergence of online and offline commerce models, the rise of digitally enabled small sellers, the acceleration of logistics infrastructure, and the growing importance of consumer trust and safety in driving sustainable growth.
The Dialogue builds on IAMAI’s ongoing efforts to facilitate informed discussions on India’s digital economy. It comes at a time when e-commerce is emerging as a core pillar of India’s growth story — attracting global investments, enabling MSMEs, strengthening supply chains, expanding consumer access across geographies, and reinforcing India’s position as a leading digital economy.
