Representatives of Russia’s e-commerce industry have proposed creating a unified support mechanism for marketplace sellers affected by emergency situations. The initiative was submitted by the Association of E-Commerce Representatives (APET) to the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation.
The proposal calls for the development of an official framework that would enable the rapid verification of affected businesses and establish clear procedures for cooperation between the government, marketplaces, and sellers in the event of major disruptions to logistics infrastructure or other force majeure circumstances.
Proposed Support Measures
According to industry representatives, businesses need a predefined support framework to ensure faster assistance and reduce uncertainty during crises.
The proposed measures include:
According to industry associations, around 60% of marketplace sellers rely on borrowed funds to finance their operations. Extended disruptions in sales may therefore expose many businesses to significant financial losses and even bankruptcy.
What Prompted the Initiative?
The proposal follows recent incidents affecting the logistics infrastructure of RWB. According to industry experts, the value of destroyed inventory may have reached RUB 290 billion, impacting nearly 300,000 sellers just ahead of the traditionally strong autumn sales season.
Support Measures Already Introduced
Several market participants have already announced assistance programs for affected businesses.
Wildberries has launched a support program that includes the first compensation payments, temporary discounts on warehouse storage fees, and free transit shipments to regional warehouses.
Banks have also joined the initiative. Sber has begun accepting applications for loan restructuring from entrepreneurs who lost inventory stored at the affected warehouses. VTB is offering payment deferrals on both principal and interest, along with additional support measures where needed. WB Bank has announced loan payment holidays of up to six months.
The Industry Calls for a Systematic Approach
Experts believe that establishing a unified cooperation framework involving the government, marketplaces, and financial institutions would enable a faster response to emergency situations while reducing risks for small and medium-sized businesses.
The Ministry of Economic Development has confirmed that it is ready to review the proposal. Representatives of the country’s largest marketplaces have also expressed support for introducing clear and transparent rules for assisting sellers during large-scale crisis situations.
Source
The proposal calls for the development of an official framework that would enable the rapid verification of affected businesses and establish clear procedures for cooperation between the government, marketplaces, and sellers in the event of major disruptions to logistics infrastructure or other force majeure circumstances.
Proposed Support Measures
According to industry representatives, businesses need a predefined support framework to ensure faster assistance and reduce uncertainty during crises.
The proposed measures include:
- restructuring of existing business loans;
- loan payment holidays for up to six months;
- tax payment deferrals;
- the introduction of standardized compensation mechanisms for business losses.
According to industry associations, around 60% of marketplace sellers rely on borrowed funds to finance their operations. Extended disruptions in sales may therefore expose many businesses to significant financial losses and even bankruptcy.
What Prompted the Initiative?
The proposal follows recent incidents affecting the logistics infrastructure of RWB. According to industry experts, the value of destroyed inventory may have reached RUB 290 billion, impacting nearly 300,000 sellers just ahead of the traditionally strong autumn sales season.
Support Measures Already Introduced
Several market participants have already announced assistance programs for affected businesses.
Wildberries has launched a support program that includes the first compensation payments, temporary discounts on warehouse storage fees, and free transit shipments to regional warehouses.
Banks have also joined the initiative. Sber has begun accepting applications for loan restructuring from entrepreneurs who lost inventory stored at the affected warehouses. VTB is offering payment deferrals on both principal and interest, along with additional support measures where needed. WB Bank has announced loan payment holidays of up to six months.
The Industry Calls for a Systematic Approach
Experts believe that establishing a unified cooperation framework involving the government, marketplaces, and financial institutions would enable a faster response to emergency situations while reducing risks for small and medium-sized businesses.
The Ministry of Economic Development has confirmed that it is ready to review the proposal. Representatives of the country’s largest marketplaces have also expressed support for introducing clear and transparent rules for assisting sellers during large-scale crisis situations.
Source