Bhubaneswar: Odisha is exploring collaboration with the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) to enhance market access for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), farmers’ producer organisations (FPOs), self-help groups (SHGs), handicraft artisans, weavers and other seller communities across the state.
The initiative was discussed at a meeting chaired by Chief Secretary Anu Garg in Bhubaneswar on Thursday, where members of the ONDC team made a detailed presentation on expanding e-commerce participation and leveraging digital commerce platforms for inclusive economic growth.
ONDC is a flagship initiative of the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India. The platform aims to make digital commerce more accessible and inclusive through an open and interoperable network that facilitates seamless digital transactions across goods and services sectors.
According to the ONDC presentation, nearly two crore digital transactions are currently processed every month through the network across segments such as retail trade, logistics, financial services, mobility and travel. The platform is also working with departments under more than ten central ministries.
The ONDC team highlighted the potential for Odisha’s tourism sector to gain wider national and international visibility through the platform. Major tourist destinations such as Konark Sun Temple, Puri, Chilika Lake, Similipal National Park and Bhitarkanika National Park, along with eco-tourism destinations and tribal cultural attractions, could be showcased on a global digital platform, helping attract more domestic and foreign tourists.
The platform could also enable local tour operators, homestay owners, Mission Shakti groups, ORMAS-supported producers, handicraft artisans, weavers and MSME entrepreneurs to directly connect with buyers and consumers across the country, thereby expanding market opportunities and strengthening Odisha’s brand presence.
Addressing the meeting, Chief Secretary Anu Garg underscored the importance of partnering with ONDC to address challenges related to e-commerce participation and market access. She observed that compared to conventional e-commerce platforms, ONDC could provide greater national-level visibility and demand generation for small sellers and local enterprises.
She stressed the need to bring more economic activities into the digital ecosystem to facilitate business growth and urged departments to explore opportunities for wider adoption of the platform.
The Chief Secretary also advocated the integration of Odisha’s tourism and eco-tourism destinations into the ONDC network, saying it would improve the state’s visibility across the country while offering tourists convenient online booking facilities.
The meeting was attended by Additional Chief Secretary of the Electronics and Information Technology Department Vishal Kumar Dev and senior officials from the Commerce and Transport, Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment, Mission Shakti, Tourism, Industries, Forest, Environment and Climate Change, Handlooms, Textiles and Handicrafts, and Fisheries and Animal Resources Development departments.
