Meta releases new guide to help Indian brands navigate online international sales
02 June, Mumbai 2025
Meta has released a new guide designed to help Indian brands navigate the ins and outs of selling online internationally. Tilted, ‘Grow Your Exports: A Guide to Cross-Border Business Growth,’ the guide was launched as more and more Indian businesses are engaging in cross-border e-commerce.
According to a study Meta commissioned with Kantar, almost half of the 14,591 consumers surveyed across various markets had made a cross-border purchase in the last six months. The study also reveals, 71 per cent of these shoppers were open to trying new brands they found online, and 72 per cent would consider switching brands if the right offer or promotion came along.
India's cross-border e-commerce sector is booming. In 2023, international online retail sales from India topped $8 billion, with projections showing a 29 per cent rise by 2025. Major e-commerce platforms are fueling this growth.
However, Indian businesses are hitting some roadblocks in the global e-commerce arena. An EY-ASSOCHAM report points to tough customs procedures, issues with getting payments back into India, and restrictive policies as big hurdles. The report suggests that policy changes are needed in payments, customs, and logistics to help Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) access export markets and hit the government's target of $200–300 billion in e-commerce exports by 2030.
To tackle some of these challenges, the Indian government inked 13 free trade agreements and six preferential pacts with trading partners in 2023 to improve access to international markets. Plus, initiatives like the Foreign Trade Policy aim to boost the country’s e-commerce exports, with the goal of making India an export powerhouse in the coming years.
Meta's new playbook offers tips on using digital tools to get around some of these obstacles. The company highlights the importance of personalization, noting that 62 per cent of cross-border shoppers expect shopping experiences tailored to their interests.
As cross-border commerce keeps evolving, Indian brands are encouraged to embrace digital transformation and use the available tools and policies to expand their global reach.
