New Delhi, Bharat (India) |Bureau Report | ReportingNewsWorld | February 2, 2026

An international trade body has formally submitted a representation to the Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises, the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, and the National Trade Welfare Board seeking reconsideration of eligibility criteria under the MSME TEAM Initiative linked to the ONDC Network.

According to the representation dated February 2, 2026 Request Letter – English – MSME, the Federation of International Trade & Investor Gunodaya Association (FITIG Association) has requested the inclusion of Indian trading enterprises within the MSME TEAM e-commerce marketplace training framework.

Eligibility Criteria Highlighted

Information displayed on the MSME TEAM registration portal indicates that enterprises categorized under Trading activities are currently not eligible to register for the marketplace training component, which permits participation under Manufacturing and Services categories.

The representation states that while the initiative aims to digitally empower MSMEs to effectively utilize e-commerce marketplaces, Indian trading enterprises — particularly small and micro traders — may also require structured onboarding support to ensure balanced participation in the digital ecosystem.

Submission by International Trade Body

In its communication addressed to Union Ministers and the Chairman of the National Trade Welfare Board Request Letter – English – MSME, the FITIG Association highlighted:

• The role of Indian trading enterprises in domestic supply chains
• Their contribution to last-mile distribution, aggregation, and retail facilitation
• The need for inclusive digital capacity-building across the full MSME value chain
• Alignment with national initiatives such as Digital India, Atmanirbhar Bharat, and Ease of Doing Business reforms

The Association has sought:

• A review of eligibility criteria under the MSME TEAM Initiative
• Inclusion of Udyam-registered Indian trading enterprises
• Clarification regarding participation norms within ONDC-linked training initiatives

Recommendation for Structured Collaboration

Shri Aditya Khanna, Chairman of the FITIG Association, has recommended that the Government consider onboarding the FITIG Association and similar recognized industry bodies to conduct structured training sessions and awareness initiatives for enterprises across Manufacturing, Trading, and Services sectors.

The recommendation suggests that such organizations could support implementation through:

• Digital literacy workshops
• Compliance education programs
• Marketplace onboarding assistance
• Best-practice guidance for responsible e-commerce participation

The proposal emphasizes collaborative engagement to strengthen India’s digital commerce ecosystem in an inclusive manner.

Policy Context

The MSME TEAM Initiative is intended to enhance MSME participation in India’s evolving digital commerce framework. Eligibility conditions for government-supported schemes may vary depending on program design and sectoral priorities.

As of publication, no official clarification or modification to the eligibility criteria has been publicly announced by the concerned authorities.

Awaiting Official Response

The Ministries and the National Trade Welfare Board have not issued a public statement regarding the representation at the time of publication.

Any potential review would likely involve administrative assessment and policy-level consideration.

Editorial & Compliance Note

This report is based on a formal written representation dated February 2, 2026 Request Letter – English – MSME and on publicly accessible information from the MSME TEAM portal. ReportingNewsWorld has not independently verified internal policy deliberations. No allegation of wrongdoing is being made against any Ministry, authority, or program. This article is published for informational and public policy discussion purposes in accordance with our editorial standards.