Union Minister of MSME, Kalraj Mishra has launched an online shopping portal mainly dedicated to the Indian micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) at a function organised by NSIC in New Delhi on Thursday.

Inaugurating the NSIC online e-commerce shopping portal, www.msmeshopping.com, Mishra appreciated the efforts of NSIC in launching their B2C (business-to-consumer) portal, which is one of its kind as MSMEs shall be able to sell retail products as well as industrial equipment/ machinery online.

The minister added that marketing has always been a very expensive affair and MSMEs find it very difficult to source big budgets on advertisement, brand building and in maintaining sales distribution channels along with handling other marketing intricacies. This results in large dependence on middle men who eat away their profit margin and this online shopping portal is an appropriate solution for marketing problems of MSMEs.

"Launching of NSIC's B2C online shopping portal, MSMEs will be immensely benefited for both buyers and sellers," added Mishra.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. H P Kumar, CMD, NSIC informed that this portal is developed especially for micro enterprises, women entrepreneurs, artisans etc. "There is a facility of online registration of MSMEs ate a very nominal cost of Rs. 5000 per annum only, while other such portals are charging more than Rs. 2500," he said.

When asked how he will cover the MSMEs of rural area, Dr. Kumar said, "All we need an internet connection only for online registration. NSIC will provide all kind of support in developing their web-store and will give separate space for showcasing their products."

At the time of launch 106 suppliers have joined the portal, with their over 1700 products.

"To avoid misplacing of money and product, we have been emphasising more on cash-on-delivery so that money will directly reach to the sellers," Dr. Kumar told SME Times.

NSIC is also working on elaborating portal's reach internationally as it already discussing it with banks about currency conversion and duty pay, added Dr. Kumar.