India to Set Up Ecommerce Export Hubs Near Delhi, With Shiprocket and CSC Leading the Pilot Project

The Indian government has selected logistics firms Shiprocket and Cargo Service Centre (CSC) to establish pilot ecommerce export hubs around Delhi, with operations slated to begin in February 2025. The hubs will be located near the capital’s international airport, according to Santosh Kumar Sarangi, Director General of Foreign Trade (DGFT). Shiprocket, an ecommerce logistics aggregator based in Gurugram, and CSC, a Mumbai-based air cargo handling company, will run the initial hubs as part of a government initiative to streamline ecommerce exports. The hubs will offer integrated services, including expedited customs and security clearance, and in-house facilities for quality certification. A key feature of the project is a re-import policy, allowing ecommerce consignments and rejected items to be returned without import duties. Sarangi noted that the pilot program will help refine the process, and feedback from these initial hubs will shape the development of detailed guidelines for scaling up similar hubs across India. The goal is to expand the model based on the lessons learned, which may require regulatory adjustments in various sectors. The move