India SME Forum, the voice of MSMEs in India, has taken the lead in forming the Forum for Internet Retailers, Sellers & Traders, (FIRST India) in order to support the entry of retailers, sellers and traders who have been inducted in the definition of micro small and medium enterprises under the MSMED Act 2006 on the advise of the Advisory Committee constituted under subsection (2) of section 7 of the MSMED Act 2006. In March 2023, FIRST India was formally unveiled by Hon'ble Union Minister Shri Narayan Tatu Rane, in the presence of dignitaries including Shri Bhanu Pratap Singh Verma, Hon'ble Minister of State for MSME, Shri Bidyut Swain, IAS, Secretary of the Ministry of MSME, and Ms. Mercy Epao, Joint Secretary - MSME. This launch followed an encouraging dialogue with Shri Piyush Goyal, Hon'ble Minister of Commerce and Industry, who acknowledged the pressing need for such an entity. The Indian retail, trade & commerce sector, representing enterprises based in India, which are in the business of wholesale & retail selling of goods and services, both, offline as well as online to consumers, are all eligible under this change notified on 2nd July 2021. India SME Forum serves as an ex-officio member of the Advisory committee constituted by the Government of India, under subsection (2) of section 7 of the MSMED Act 2006 and has pushed for the inclusion of wholesale and retail trade as activities eligible under the MSMED Act with benefits restricted to priority sector lending, as of now. Together with Indian policymakers, FIRST India can work on a daily basis to create a conducive policy and ecosystem which will help remove the biggest obstacles for online merchants to expand their business nationally as well as across-borders.

FIRST India’s strategy is based on engaging, reporting and communication. Together with its members, it gathers issues and evidence of obstacles hampering the development of the sector and translate them into priorities. Through collaboration with other relevant stakeholders, and using its members’ expertise, FIRST India develops positions and proposes workable solutions to the legislators in order to foster the growth of the Indian retail and ecommerce industry.

FIRST India works together with all Indian stakeholders to rapidly remove the remaining barriers in digital commerce. It is mandated to identify problems as well as measure progress in the trade and commerce market, following from policy initiatives that will be taken at the National as well as Global level. This way, it is always well informed and ready to give evidence based advise, to policy makers. It can offer recommendations to policy makers to support market initiatives, to abolish superfluous regulation and to only consider new regulatory structures, if absolutely necessary, based on ground evidence. Also, it can take up an active role in stimulating growth in areas where it is needed.