Paragraphs 9 explained: this guide covers what it means, who it applies to, the step-by-step process, documents required, fees, due dates and penalties in India — so you can stay compliant with confidence and avoid costly mistakes.
Paragraphs 9.07 to 9.12 of the Foreign Trade Policy, 2023 are the promotion side of Chapter 9. They describe outreach under the Niryat Bandhu Scheme, the objective and working of E-Commerce Export Hubs (ECEHs) and the Dak Ghar Niryat Kendras of the postal route. Paragraph 9.02 of the Handbook of Procedures says how an ECEH is created and administered.
DGFT organises outreach under a component of the Niryat Bandhu Scheme (paragraph 9.07). An ECEH is a designated area acting as a centre for business infrastructure for cross-border e-commerce (paragraph 9.08), ordinarily set up through private initiative and approved by a committee constituted by DGFT (paragraph 9.09). Goods including SCOMET and restricted goods may be handled, subject to compliance (paragraph 9.10). Dak Ghar Niryat Kendras work with Foreign Post Offices (paragraph 9.12).
This article is based on the chapter-wise text of the Foreign Trade Policy, 2023 published on the DGFT website, as consulted on 2 October 2026; the copy carries no "updated up to" date. The procedure is taken from Chapter 9 of the Handbook of Procedures, 2023 as published on the DGFT website (file of August 2026), consulted on 2 October 2026. Later Notifications and Public Notices should be checked before acting. The Policy is made under section 5 of the Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act, 1992; see our article on section 5 of the FTDR Act. No particular hub or kendra is named in the text, and none is named here. Sellers who plan to sell through a hub will need a tax registration; see our page on GST registration for exporters.
Paragraph 9.07: handholding and outreach
Paragraph 9.07 has two sub-paragraphs.
Sub-paragraph (i): the Niryat Bandhu Scheme (NBS), as defined in Chapter 1 of the Policy, "shall have a component" for promotion of e-commerce and other emerging channels of export. Under that component DGFT organises outreach activities and workshops in partnership with Customs Authorities, the Department of Post, "Industry Partners" and "Knowledge Partners". Besides outreach and workshops, "specific focus may be on creation of electronic content as well".
Sub-paragraph (ii): in addition to raising awareness of e-commerce rules and processes, actions "may be undertaken" under that NBS component for capacity building and skill development, again in partnership with the same bodies.
The language is promotional and permissive: "shall have a component" fixes the component, while "may be undertaken" leaves the activities to DGFT. No benefit to an individual exporter is created by this paragraph.
Paragraphs 9.08 to 9.11: E-Commerce Export Hubs
Paragraph 9.08: objective
The objective is to establish designated areas as E-Commerce Export Hubs, which would act "as a centre for favourable business infrastructure and facilities for Cross Border E-Commerce activities".
Paragraph 9.09: creation
| Sub-paragraph | What it says |
|---|---|
| (i) | An ECEH shall ordinarily be set up through private initiative. It may also be set up in Public-Private-Partnership mode in partnership with the State governments or the Central government. A request for approval of a proposed ECEH is submitted to the notified committee constituted by DGFT |
| (ii) | An existing facility with the required infrastructure may also apply to be designated as an ECEH |
Paragraph 9.10: nature of operations
- (i) The ECEH functions to achieve agglomeration benefits for e-commerce exporters. It may provide storage (including cold storage), packaging, labelling, certification and testing and other common facilities for export.
- (ii) It shall provide dedicated logistics infrastructure for connecting to and leveraging the services of the nearest logistics hub or hubs.
- (iii) All goods, including SCOMET and restricted goods "(subject to suitable compliance of regulations and conditions)", except goods which are prohibited or otherwise disallowed, may be handled at an ECEH. The paragraph does not alter the SCOMET authorisation requirements, which are explained in our later articles on paragraphs 10.00 to 10.03.
- (iv) Capital goods brought to an ECEH shall be utilised only for the activities in (i), "on payment of the duties and taxes, as applicable, in terms of extant laws". No rate is stated in the paragraph or here.
Paragraph 9.11: entitlement
An ECEH "may be provided financial assistance under MAI scheme" for e-commerce export promotion projects for marketing, capacity building and technological services such as imaging, cataloguing and product video creation of e-commerce goods. The word is "may": the paragraph does not create a right, and it prints no amount or ratio.
Paragraph 9.12: Dak Niryat Kendras
The paragraph is headed "Dak Niryat Kendras" and speaks in its text of Dak Ghar Niryat Kendras. They "shall be operationalised throughout the country to work in a hub-and-spoke model with Foreign Post Offices (FPOs)". The purpose is to facilitate cross-border e-commerce and to enable artisans, weavers, craftsmen and MSMEs in the hinterland and land-locked regions to reach international markets. The paragraph says nothing about fees, locations or the goods accepted. For the postal-export tax position, see our guide to GST refund on courier and postal exports, and for the route itself, our article on paragraphs 9.00 to 9.06.
Procedure under the Handbook: paragraph 9.02
Paragraph 9.02 of the Handbook carries two heads.
(a) Creation of an ECEH
- An application for creation or notification of an ECEH area is made to DGFT.
- The authority for approval vests with DGFT. DGFT constitutes a committee to evaluate applications; the committee has a member from the Department of Revenue besides any other members required from time to time.
- DGFT may specify export products or markets which are not eligible for ECEH operations, and the negative list of items that cannot be dealt with in ECEHs is to be notified separately. The list is not in Chapter 9 and none is given here.
(b) Administration of an ECEH
- The ECEH developer provides an annual statement of accounts as per instructions.
- DGFT notifies procedures for supervision and inspections at ECEHs. An independent evaluation and assessment mechanism may also be developed.
The Handbook is issued by the Director General under section 6 of the Act.
An example
Bhavani Logistics Park, an invented developer with an existing warehouse and cold storage, wants to be designated as an ECEH. Under paragraph 9.09(ii) of the Policy an existing facility with the required infrastructure may apply. Under paragraph 9.02(a) of the Handbook, the application goes to DGFT and is evaluated by the committee that includes a member of the Department of Revenue. If it is designated, the park may provide storage, packaging and testing under paragraph 9.10(i), and must connect to the nearest logistics hub under paragraph 9.10(ii). Capital goods it brings in are used only for those activities and on payment of duties and taxes as applicable. Whether any financial assistance is available is for the scheme under paragraph 9.11 to decide.
Need help with a business plan for e-commerce exports?
Hubs, kendras and platforms all need the seller to be registered correctly for tax and trade. Our team can help you set up a GST registration for exporters and work out what else your sales channel needs.
Key takeaways
- Paragraph 9.07: outreach and capacity building under a component of the Niryat Bandhu Scheme, with Customs, the Department of Post and partners.
- Paragraphs 9.08 to 9.10: ECEHs are ordinarily private initiative or PPP; approval by a notified committee of DGFT; SCOMET and restricted goods may be handled subject to compliance.
- Paragraph 9.11: financial assistance under the MAI scheme may be provided.
- Paragraph 9.12: Dak Ghar Niryat Kendras with Foreign Post Offices in a hub-and-spoke model.
- Handbook 9.02: application to DGFT, committee with a Department of Revenue member, annual statement of accounts, supervision and inspection procedures to be notified.
Read next
- Paragraphs 9.00 to 9.06 of the Foreign Trade Policy, 2023: e-commerce exports and the courier or postal route
- Paragraphs 9.13 to 9.15 of the Foreign Trade Policy, 2023: the inventory-based cross-border e-commerce framework
- GST refund on courier and postal exports
- Sections 83-84 of the Customs Act, 1962: goods imported or exported by post or courier
Disclaimer: Based on the chapter-wise text of the Foreign Trade Policy, 2023 and the Handbook of Procedures, 2023 published on the DGFT website, and on the later Notifications named in this article, as consulted on 2 October 2026. The copies carry no "updated up to" date. Notifications, Public Notices, Trade Notices, the ITC(HS) schedules, Appendices and forms change often; the current text on the DGFT website should be checked before acting. This article is general information, not legal advice; check the official text before acting.