Nirmala Sitharaman calls for support of small traders amid e-commerce boom
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has underscored the importance of protecting small traders and retailers as the e-commerce sector rapidly expands in India.
Speaking at the News18 India Chaupal event, Sitharaman emphasised that while online platforms are growing, small businesses — essential to India’s economy — must not be left behind.
“It is important to take care of the small traders and retailers, not just because they have significant membership and sympathy for the BJP,” Sitharaman said. “This country needs that kind of support for small and medium industries, and for small traders in particular. The retailers need all the help,” she stated in a conversation with Network18 Group Editor-in-Chief Rahul Joshi.
She stressed that with the dominance of e-commerce giants and practices such as predatory pricing, smaller players face challenges in competing fairly. "And where, because of predatory pricing or deep pockets, their businesses are getting affected, we'll have to give it serious thought, and the Commerce and Industry Minister is quite seized of this matter,” she added.
