Kolkata lags behind other metros when it comes to online business. According to eBay India Pvt Ltd, an online marketplace, which is a 100% subsidiary of $6 billion US-based eBay, Kolkata contributes just around 5% to eBay’s total online business transaction as against Delhi’s 14% and Mumbai’s 17%.
Without revealing its Indian revenue figure, the company said that though it is not yet profitable in India, it is on the road to profit. ebay (formerly Baazee.com) was launched in India in 2000.
“Kolkata will be in league with cities like Hyderabad, Pune and Ahmedabad and behind metros like Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Bangalore,” said Muralikrishnan B, director, category & product management at eBay India.
He said although India’s share in eBay’s total global online transaction is around 5%, 2 million Indians buy and sell goods through the eBay platform. “Around 60% of our users can be said to be active users,” said Muralikrishnan B.
To popularise e-commerce among the Internet users of West Bengal, eBay on Wednesday discussed the business opportunities for sellers on its platform.
“We are keen to tap entrepreneurs and businessmen in West Bengal and encourage them to start online business,” Muralikrishnan B said.
He said eBay hopes that more entrepreneurs from the east will join the 12,800 sellers across India making a livelihood on eBay.