eBay India launched its inaugural Online Business Index report in Delhi recently, building its credentials as an industry thought leader. The index follows other well-regarded reports, such as the eBay Census.

The report surveys the practices and views of online entrepreneurs in 2013 and provides interesting insights into India’s domestic and retail export businesses. Trends in ecommerce adoption by entrepreneurs and small and medium enterprises are some of the highlights.

The index was compiled using survey responses from more than 700 of eBay India’s top sellers with annual gross merchandise volume (GMV) of US $10,000 to US $4.5 million. Importantly, it gives Indian businesses engaged in domestic and cross-border trade an opportunity to express their views.

More than 89 percent of domestic sellers and 84 percent of retail export sellers are optimistic about the business outlook for the next year.

Ebay India has also been advocating that retailers selling products in overseas markets via online platforms should receive exporter status. This would bring them on a par with other domestic exporters in terms of tax exemptions, Customs benefits, reduced paper work, and help them deal with import regulations across different countries.

Exporter status would benefit at least 45,000 retailers from more than 4,300 cities and towns across India.