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Our Bureau

New Delhi , March 22

MARKING the completion of its integration process with online marketplace eBay, auction site Baazee.com today re-branded itself as eBay.in. This will enable buyers and sellers in India access to eBay's global trading community of 135 million users in 32 markets.

The announcement entails integration of the two technology platforms, and is expected to facilitate cross-border trade on the site.

"In addition, Indian buyers and sellers would now be able to enjoy a more stable and robust platform, and tools such as Turbo Lister and Selling Manager Pro that make selling more efficient," Baazee.com Country Manager, Mr Avnish Bajaj, said at a press conference here.

Indian users can use their single eBay India identity to trade globally. They can sell their products to international buyers by listing them on any of the 32 eBay market sites. "They now have more robust platform and tools that allows them to trade higher volumes without investing in IT infrastructure," Mr Bajaj added.

The company sees a huge potential for Indian entrepreneurs to trade globally, especially in categories such as apparel, leather, collectibles, handicrafts and jewellery. Sellers would require an export licence, and need to pay a `listing fee' to get their items listed on eBay's global sites.

"As long as the user transacts on the Indian platform he would be governed by Indian laws," Mr Bajaj said. He said eBay was committed to increasing investment in India. "India is a good long-term market. We raised about $21 million and spent 60 per cent to 70 per cent of that in the first 3-4 years of operations. Over the next four years, we would spend more than we have done in the last four years," he added.

eBay India trading platform offers auctions, quick buy and classifieds modes of person-to-person trading. The range of products listed on eBay India includes art and antiques, apparel, books and magazines, automobiles, computers, loans, music, jewellery, real estate and travel.

eBay completed the acquisition of Baazee.com and its subsidiary Baazee.com India Pvt Ltd in August 2004, for about $50 million in cash, plus acquisition costs.

To ensure a good user experience for the Baazee.com community on the platform, a five-stage integration process was planned from December 1, 2004 to March 30, 2005.

India seen as long-term market

UNFAZED by the recent MMS controversy, Baazee.com on Tuesday said that India is a long-term strategic market for the company.

"It was a mishap and a personal trauma. eBay believes India is a big opportunity and a long-term strategic market," Mr Avnish Bajaj, Country Manager of Baazee.com, said, while unveiling the auction site's new identity as eBay India (www.eBay.in) here.

With this announcement, eBay India joins the eBay family of sites with a common global visual identity. Asked if the integration, which gives buyers and sellers in India access to a global trading community of 135 million users in 32 markets, raises concerns on the nature of products transacted on the site, he said, "eBay has filters for various countries. If we feel that certain products in the US can hurt the sensibilities of the Indian audience, we will filter it here. These items include mature audience products."

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