The Ministry of Commerce is the nodal agency for the implementation of electronic data Interchange (EDI) in India. India joined the EDI movement in early 1992, when it obtained the observer status in the Asia EDIFACT Board (ASEB). India became a member of ASEB in August 1992. In order to promote the use of EDI in India the Ministry of Commerce has taken initiatives to develop EDI infrastructure. The following are the agencies that cater to the EDI infrastructure

• EDI Council of India

• India EDIFACT Committee

• Working Group

• Education and Awareness

• VAN Service Providers

• EDI Implementation in Government Regulatory Agencies

(a) EDI Council of India

EDI council is the apex body consisting of all the key government departments and representatives of trade and industry. It is responsible for laying down the policy frame work and direction for-

• promotion and propagation of EDI and Electronic Commerce.

• creating awareness and education among the potential EDI functionaries and users

• streamlining procedures and practices

• attending to legal issues

• human resource development

• any other issue connected with EDI and Electronic Commerce.

Chairman : Secretary, Ministry of Commerce

Secretariat : EDI Division

Ministry of Commerce

Udyog Bhawan,

New Delhi - 1100011

(b) India EDIF ACT Committee

The India EDIFACT Committee (IEC) is responsible for formulating standards, streamlining the procedures in line with UN/EDIFACT and maintain liaison with UN/EDIFACT bodies.

To address all the information needed on different sectors and its interface with UN/EDIFACT standards following Message Development Groups are working-

• Ports Message Development Group under Indian Ports Association (IPA)

• Airports Message Development Group under Airports Authority of India (AAI)

• Financial Message Development Group under Indian Banks Association (EBA)

• Customs Message Development Group under Central Board of Excise and Custom (CBEC)

• Private Sector Message Development Group under Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO)

A Technical Support Group is also working under National Informatics Center (NIC) which is responsible for helping users in EDI related software development and for providing technical support.

Chairman : Additional Secretary, Ministry of Commerce

Secretariat : EDI Division

Ministry of Commerce

Udyog Bhawan,

New Delhi-1100011

(c) Working Group

The working group is responsible for motivating various functionaries in the govermnent and ensure scheduled implementation of program.

Chairman : Secretary, Ministry of Commerce

Secretariat : EDI Division

Ministry of Commerce

Udyog Bhawan,

New Delhi - 1100011

(d) Education and Awareness

Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FLEO) is organising regular workshops and seminars throughout in India. FIEO has identif‌ied large automotive, chemical, textile and engineering concerns that had already implemented EDI. These Organisations would perform as model organisation for the EDI implementation in their own sectors.

The All India Management Association (ALMA) of New Delhi is offering courses on EDI, including a Masters program. An HRD group is also working to investigate the needs for EDI related human resource development.

(e) VAN Service Providers

The two major VAN operators in India providing EDI services are NIC and VSNL.

National Informatics Center (NIC) has set up a nation-wide computer communication network with over 600 nodes connecting the national capital, the state capitals and district headquarters. NICNET provides high speed information highway nodes within the country and connectivity to Internet as well as to other foreign networks outside the country.

Videsh Sanchar Nigarn Ltd. (VSNL) has established the GEDIS TradeNET Network service for EDI. It is connected to two international EDI VAN operators, GEIS and INS UK.

(f) EDI Implementation in Government's Regulatory Agencies

The Ministry of Commerce has selected government regulatory and facilitatory Organisations for co-ordinated EDI implementation. These Organisations are Customs, Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), Regional Licensing Authorities, Airports Authority of India (AAI), Scheduled Banks, Airlines, Reserve Bank of India, Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence & Statistics (DGCI&S), Chamber of Commerce, Inspection Agencies, Export promotion Organisations, Port Trusts, Container Corporation of India Ltd. (CONCOR), Insurance Agencies.