‘Felt Cheated,’ CAIT Criticises Gujarat Govt for Signing Deal with Amazon

The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) on Tuesday criticized the Gujarat authorities for signing a pact with Amazon, alleging the US-based e-commerce large indulges in anti-competitive practices. Amazon has mentioned it has inked an settlement with the Industries and Mines Department of Gujarat to assist drive e-commerce exports from the state.

As a part of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), Amazon will practice and onboard MSMEs from the state on Amazon Global Selling, enabling them to promote their distinctive Made in India merchandise to thousands and thousands of Amazon prospects throughout over 200 international locations and territories.

“Beside the merchants of Gujarat, the merchants throughout the nation felt cheated by the hands of the Gujarat Government for shaking palms with a recognized legislation offender Company. The CAIT will oppose such MOU,” CAIT said in a statement.

On one hand the Centre’s statutory bodies like the Competition Commission of India (CCI) and Enforcement Directorate (ED) are conducting investigation against Amazon for anti-competitive practices and violation of e-commerce rules, while the Gujarat government is shaking hands with them for boosting sales, it said. “It is highly regretted that the lawyers of the Central Government are exposing Amazon in various Courts including Supreme Court but on the other hand the State Government of Gujarat is entering an MOU with Amazon,” it added.