Amazon.com Inc. filed an application with India's Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion to start selling locally produced food items, The Economic Times (India) reported Feb. 3, citing a person with knowledge of the matter.

The e-commerce giant is planning a $500 million, five-year investment, and could start online sales of food products within six months of getting government approval, according to the source.

Amazon currently has an e-commerce platform in India through which locally owned businesses offer their products.