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t e n
W
ho can teach a Gujarati to do business? It’s like wondering whether a
duck can take to water. When it comes to commerce and trade, Gujaratis
are the Number One Community — making money is in our genes.
This penchant for creating wealth is only going to get honed further under
the new Internet regime, where the Gujarati business acumen has found a new expression
in “
e-vyapar
”.
In fact, it is time now for the industrious Gujaratis to help the state
move ahead in the e-commerce domain.
Today, the Internet revolution is upon us. With the Internet arriving, “
e-vyapar
”
has the potential to grow into a gargantuan Rs. 15,000 crore entity in 2001-02
and Rs. 50,000 crore in 2002-03 (according to e-commerce transaction
figures put forth by a NASSCOM-McKinsey study, the figures would reach a
mind-boggling $ 61 billion by 2008). All roads, it appears, are leading to this newly
emerging
“
e-vyapar”
environment.
Besides the industry, the Government too has stepped up its efforts to create a
climate that’s conducive to the conduct of e-commerce in India. The IT Act 2000,
encompassing an array of cyber laws is on the brink of implementation. Tomorrow
the Government will announce the rules governing e-commerce. The writing is
clearly on the wall now. Gujarat has to leverage its intrinsic business strengths,
and channelize them towards the new e-world. From leadership in the traditional
bricks and mortar realm, Gujarat will have to look at how it can create an edge for
itself in the electronic cyber space. Gujarat, therefore, has to acquaint itself
with the click and portal economy fundamentals.
For both India and Gujarat, this is a second tryst with destiny. August 15 symbolizes
the attainment of not just political freedom for India, but also an unshackling of
the old economy and the move towards the attainment of “
e-vyapar
”
nirvana
.
Opportunity is knocking at the doors of Gujarat and we must wrest it with both
hands. To begin with, Gujarat will have to look at ways and means whereby “old
economy” companies metamorphose into 21st century, e-commerce-oriented
organizations. Let’s help set up
“
e-vyapar”
transformation centers in Rajkot,
The Times of India, Ahmedabad August 14, 2000
“
E-Vyapar
Nirvana!
”
