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Walmart and Flipkart join hands with the Government of Telangana to upskill and support local MSMEs

Posted on July 25, 2023 - 4:51 pm by
Over 32,000 MSMEs have already completed training under the Walmart Vriddhi Supplier Development Program

Hyderabad, India, July 25, 2023: Walmart and Flipkart today announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with The Industries & Commerce Department, Government of Telangana, to create an ecosystem aiding capacity building for MSMEs in the state. The MoU was signed in the presence of Dr. Jayesh Ranjan, Principal Secretary, Industries & Commerce Department, Government of Telangana, and Joseph Julian KG, Programme Director, Swasti.

The MoU, signed between Swasti and The Industries & Commerce Department, Government of Telangana, has been inked to facilitate the development of local MSMEs towards accessing a wider domestic marketspace, leverage online retail and enable sustained growth and commercialisation.

Under the new partnership, Walmart will extend its support to help MSMEs digitise their businesses and fuel capacity building for the state of Telangana. This will enable MSMEs to be a part of the offline and online domestic supply chains.

In partnership with Swasti, Walmart Vriddhi Supplier Development Program (Walmart Vriddhi) offers small businesses and entrepreneurs a complete learning platform and provides free training, in-depth expert assistance, and tailored tools and skills required to grow and expand their businesses. To facilitate the expansion and improvement of small and medium enterprises, training seminars and mentoring sessions are conducted regularly. MSMEs are now registering for the programme from tier 2 and tier 3 cities across India, along with key cities including Hyderabad, Delhi, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Surat, Panipat and Kolkata.

On the signing of the MoU, Dr. Jayesh Ranjan, Principal Secretary, Industries & Commerce Department, Government of Telangana, said, “MSMEs from different parts of Telangana are flourishing and bringing recognition to our state. MSMEs form a strong backbone to the country’s economy, and it’s crucial that we help them scale up and equip them with digital tools and technology to promote their business growth. We are happy to collaborate with Walmart Vriddhi to provide guidance and the support required to strengthen MSMEs and achieve greater success through the programme.”

The Walmart Vriddhi program provides a digitally enhanced learning experience through online modules with personalised feedback and one-on-one advisory sessions. Over 32,000 MSMEs have already completed the training.

Commenting on the partnership, Jason Fremstad, Senior Vice President, Supplier Development, Walmart, said, “We launched Walmart Vriddhi in 2019 with the intention to equip 50,000 Indian MSMEs with the skills necessary to succeed in business. From streamlining supply chains to implementing data-driven insights, these skills enable them to make informed decisions, identify emerging trends, and seize opportunities for innovation and expansion. Through Vriddhi, we are committed to empowering MSMEs with comprehensive learning opportunities to level the playing field and help ensure that MSMEs can not only survive but also thrive. 32,000 MSMEs to date have embraced the digital route, and it is a testament to the power of equipping them with future-ready skills.”

Rajneesh Kumar, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, Flipkart Group, “Telangana is an important market for us and home to thousands of MSMEs, some of whom have already benefitted from our expanded pan-India reach. We want to sustain this momentum, support the state’s artisans, entrepreneurs, and MSMEs, and provide them with a thriving ecosystem to flourish and profit. We are happy to be a part of this initiative and extend our help.”

Joseph Julian, Programme Director, Swasti, said, “The development and expansion of MSMEs in the state will be aided by this relationship with the Telangana government. Through the Vriddhi initiative, we are dedicated to helping MSMEs become more resilient for the future and supporting their participation in local and national supply chains.”

About Walmart

Walmart Inc. (NYSE: WMT) helps people around the world save money and live better, anytime and anywhere – in retail stores, online, and through their mobile devices. Each week, approximately 220 million customers and members visit approximately 10,500 stores and clubs under 48 banners in 24 countries and on eCommerce websites. With fiscal year 2021 revenue of $559 billion, Walmart employs 2.2 million associates worldwide. Walmart continues to be a leader in sustainability, corporate philanthropy and employment opportunity. Additional information about Walmart can be found by visiting corporate.walmart.com, on Facebook at facebook.com/walmart and on Twitter at twitter.com/walmart.

About Swasti

Swasti, a part of the Catalyst Group, is headquartered in Bengaluru, India and is active globally with a footprint in 30 countries and was founded in 2004. Swasti co-designs demonstrable and scalable solution models in partnership with communities on the ground and influences policies nationally and internationally. Over the past 15 years, Swasti has directly reached over 400,000 people through its initiatives, including more than 238,000 factory workers, the majority of whom are women.

Walmart digitally helps transform 32,000+ MSMEs under its supplier development program, Walmart Vriddhi

Posted on June 27, 2023 - 12:27 pm by
Walmart digitally helps transform 32,000+ MSMEs under its supplier development program, Walmart Vriddhi

The program has enabled the MSMEs to expand their domestic capabilities to reach a pan-India consumer base

NEW DELHI, India and BENTONVILLE, Ark., June 27, 2023: Walmart today announced that 32,000+ MSMEs have completed training under the Walmart Vriddhi Supplier Development Program (Walmart Vriddhi) since the program launch in December 2019. Over 6,000 of these MSMEs have been onboarded and are active on Flipkart’s marketplace giving them a much wider access and reach to a pan-India consumer base.

With the country’s GDP slated to approach $5 trillion by 2028, the Indian MSME sector is projected to be worth $1 trillion in the same year, thereby becoming a key pillar of India’s economic growth and playing a pertinent role in realising the vision of a self-reliant nation. While the sector contributes about 33% of India’s total GDP today and accounts for about 120 million jobs across regions and industries, it simultaneously also consists of small-scale entrepreneurs like women, marginal entrepreneurs, traditional craftspeople, and local artisans who lack the skills of doing business in today’s digital environment.

Walmart believes that helping these local entrepreneurs and suppliers with tools to expand their business will help them become part of a wider supply chain, create more domestic jobs, and provide sustained growth for the Indian MSME sector. Walmart’s five-year MSME investment plan is to train 50,000 MSMEs across India by 2024 through the Vriddhi program with its local program partner, Swasti.

Since the launch of the program in 2019, Walmart has been equipping MSMEs with on-demand learning modules. These modules include but are not limited to marketing, finance, streamlining of supply chain management, implementing data-driven insights to make informed decisions, and identifying emerging trends to seize opportunities for innovation and expansion, among others, to enable them to grow and scale their business both online – whether on Flipkart or other marketplaces – and offline. To further aid the learning program, Walmart also provides the MSMEs with access to a community of entrepreneurial peers along with personalised mentoring sessions.

Jason Fremstad, Senior Vice President, Supplier Development, at Walmart, said, “We launched Walmart Vriddhi in 2019 with the intention to equip 50,000 Indian MSMEs with the skills necessary to succeed in business. From streamlining supply chains to implementing data-driven insights, these skills enable them to make informed decisions, identify emerging trends, and seize opportunities for innovation and expansion. Through Vriddhi, we are committed to empowering MSMEs with comprehensive learning opportunities to not only level the playing field but also help ensure that MSMEs can not only survive but also thrive. Witnessing over 30,000 MSMEs to date embrace the digital route is a testament to the significance of equipping them with future-ready skills.”

Rajneesh Kumar, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, Flipkart Group, said, “At Flipkart, we are committed to the growth of MSMEs and building an enabling and inclusive e-commerce ecosystem. MSMEs are the backbone of India’s growth and digitization will play a crucial role in helping them explore new growth opportunities. We are delighted to play a part in helping local businesses leverage the power of e-commerce through Walmart Vriddhi and Flipkart Samarth. We will continue to deepen our engagement with all stakeholders to expand opportunities to local businesses across India.”

The strong digital ecosystem in India will be a catalyst for MSMEs in the coming years. With over 32000 MSMEs completing the program, below are stories of a few Vriddhi graduates across different parts of India who have successfully scaled their businesses, made a mark for themselves and are thriving in the industry:

  • Anusha Manchanda, Project Manager, Plus Creations Pvt. Ltd: Anusha Manchanda is a second-generation entrepreneur based out of Panipat, Haryana, who joined her 30-year-old family-run company, Plus Creations, which is focused on creating biodegradable solutions such as extending recycling and disposal applications for product packaging, including food wrapping papers, paper rolls, butter paper etc., selling through B2B and B2c channels.

    According to Plus Creations, they aligned with the government’s sustainable packaging measures and provided an alternative to other packaging materials. Due to the pandemic, the firm faced several challenges in terms of reaching customers through physical distribution channels, which impacted the business. However, within challenging times lay an opportunity for growth. Anusha upskilled with Walmart Vriddhi and diversified to eCommerce channels like Flipkart, which helped keep the business afloat and reach to a wider market domestically. Over the years, Anusha is now far more confident, empowered by the learnings and remains hopeful of increasing her company’s turnover.

  • Kanak Deka, YNotFoods: For Kanak Deka, a young entrepreneur from Guwahati, Assam, the desire of taking Assamese cuisine and pickles to households across India turned her love for food into a business. Deka established YNotFoods in the year 2019, selling authentic and traditional pickles and condiments, sourced locally from tribal farmers who produced traditional ingredients such as fermented bamboo shoots, king chillies, ginger etc. Slow and steady, Kanak has managed to build a thriving and flourishing local business and contributed to the community’s welfare, procuring over 50 quintals of raw products from farmers in the past six months alone. YNotFoods, today sees customers from across India, from Maharashtra, Goa to Tamil Nadu. Kanak attributes this success to the mentorship she received via Walmart Vriddhi, which helped her expand online and sell products to a pan-India market. Through YNotFoods, Kanak has also been able to empower the local communities, help multiple women earn better livelihoods and most importantly, bring a taste of the Northeast to other parts of India.

  • Mohammed Taqi Vakil, Founder, Kings Crispy Onions: Mohammaed Taqi Vakil’s venture, Kings Crispy Onions, which sells fried and dehydrated onions is an example of how modernising the food business can bring benefits. Located in Gujarat’s Bhavnagar district, Kings Crispy Onions has been producing dehydrated onion in the form of rings, slices, kibbled, chopped, minced, granules and powder, for more than three decades. Started in 1994 by Mr. Taqi’s father, the factory initially had a production capacity of 300 tons per year, which grew to 3,600 tons per year by 2006, and further expanded to 15,000 tons per year in 2022.

    Enrolling with Walmart Vriddhi helped Vakil scale the business and appeal to more customers, through online channels. Aspiring to be Asia’s largest manufacturer of fried onions, Vakil is working to build a contemporary, global business with operations on par with the best in the world. “Vriddhi helped me understand better how to analyse product demand, market analysis, and create strategies for new product launches. We know what our buyers need, and now we are focusing our R&D efforts in areas like packing, procurement, and finished products as well, all aligned with global standards and regulatory compliance.”

  • Ankit Sharma, Founder, Future Farmers LLP: Not many are aware of Madhya Pradesh’s rich black alluvial soil- which contributes to its agricultural output, especially the thriving sugar production. In the Narsighpur district, known as the State’s sugar bowl, farmers are keen on producing jaggery, which is globally famed. This is also the discovery that led Ankit Sharma to realise the potential of the jaggery sector. His local research helped him crystallise three clear business objectives that would soon set his brand of jaggery apart: make sure the process of making jaggery is hygienic; the jaggery retains its nutritional value; and the product resonates with the modern audience. By placing automation and machine integration across the supply chain, Ankit has ensured that his brand of Jaggery – Gladden – is never touched by human hands. Ankit had to learn more than just farming. Only armed with an IT degree, Walmart Vriddhi mentorship enabled him to upskill, and understand MSMEs and the relevant government schemes. The team also helped him with marketing, planning, product packaging, registration and designing business strategies. Today, Gladden is sold through a mix of offline and online retail channels, including Flipkart.

  • Aruna Dara, Founder & CEO, Apna Green Products: Hyderabad-based An academic research stint led Aruna to discover that banana fibres could be used for creating sanitary napkins. She started an awareness program for students in schools and colleges on the alternatives to sanitary napkins available in the market. As awareness grew, so did demand, and she invested to go into production in 2019 and developed a prototype to create an economical and banana fibre-based sanitary napkin which are biodegradable, using the latest technologies. She also provided farmers with a second income opportunity by sourcing banana fibre from them. With support from the Walmart Vriddhi team, she learned the importance of eCommerce and how it helps build brand presence along with business inputs on supply chain and logistics. She registered her company on Flipkart and realised how it has made logistics easier and increased her company’s presence on various channels.

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Walmart and Flipkart announce MoU with the Government of Jammu & Kashmir to create a robust ecosystem for MSMEs to grow their business

Posted on July 15, 2022 - 12:46 pm by

MoU signed in the presence of Honorable Lieutenant Governor of Jammu & Kashmir, Shri. Manoj Sinha and Honorable Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industry, Smt. Anupriya Patel, to assist local MSMEs with capacity building and support, enabling them to expand their domestic and international capabilities.

Srinagar, India, July 15, 2022: Walmart and Flipkart today announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Jammu & Kashmir Trade Promotion Organisation (a Government of J&K Undertaking) to create an ecosystem aiding capacity building for MSMEs in the region. Through this partnership, Walmart and Flipkart will enable local MSMEs to digitize their businesses and sell products online across the country. Furthermore, this work provides the opportunity to potentially access Walmart’s global supply chain which will enable them to tap into its global market.

Through Swasti, Walmart Vriddhi Supplier Development Program (Walmart Vriddhi) provides entrepreneurs and MSMEs with free training, in-depth support, growth opportunities and the right tools to grow and expand their business. Additionally, to facilitate business growth and development of small and medium enterprises, training seminars and mentorship workshops are organized routinely. Currently, MSMEs are enrolling for the program from Delhi, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Surat, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Agra, Panipat and other tier 2 and tier 3 cities across India.

At the MoU signing, in the august presence of Honorable Lieutenant Governor of Jammu & Kashmir, Shri. Manoj Sinha and Honorable Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industry, Smt. Anupriya Patel, it was highlighted that Jammu & Kashmir was witnessing increased investment in the MSME sector, with demand for Jammu & Kashmir made goods rapidly growing in India and across the world. This is expected to help provide employment to local youth and establish Jammu & Kashmir as an aspirational investment destination. The MoU with Walmart and Flipkart on programs like Vriddhi was hailed as a welcome collaboration that will help unlock the region’s true potential, creating an inclusive business environment.

Walmart Vriddhi, which launched in 2019, is designed to equip 50,000 Indian SMEs with the business skills they require to profit from Walmart, Flipkart and other domestic and international marketplaces. Presently, Walmart Vriddhi is training thousands of MSMEs across multiple states and regions to expand their local capabilities, grow and expand their business and become part of global supply chains. With personalized feedback and one-on-one advisory sessions, the online program provides an all-inclusive learning experience.

On this development, Nidhi Munjal, Vice President, Supplier Development – India, Walmart, said, “We are pleased to announce our partnership with the Government of Jammu & Kashmir and support their efforts to grow and build a robust MSME ecosystem. Through our Walmart Vriddhi program, we are eager to provide high-impact training along with equal opportunities for MSMEs to access online and offline markets domestically and internationally. This partnership will be significant for our ongoing efforts to help make local MSMEs competitive and self-reliant.”

Jagjeet Harode, Senior Director & Head – Marketplace, Flipkart, said, “At Flipkart, we continue to make strategic investments in Jammu & Kashmir to further grow and strengthen supply chains. Our projects and programs, such as Reach Project and Flipkart Samarth, are already established well in Jammu & Kashmir. Through these projects and programs, we are committed to expanding the domestic eCommerce marketplace and providing access and support to new sellers, MSMEs, domestic manufacturers, Indian artisans, weavers and handloom workers on our platform.”

N Raghunathan, Cofounder and Mentor, Swasti, said, “This partnership with the Government of Jammu & Kashmir will significantly improve the growth and development of local MSMEs. Through the Walmart Vriddhi program, we are dedicated to helping small businesses accelerate their growth and become more resilient to changing business environments, while enabling them to better participate in national and global supply chains.”

About Walmart

Walmart Inc. (NYSE: WMT) helps people around the world save money and live better – anytime and anywhere – in retail stores, online and through their mobile devices. Each week, approximately 220 million customers and members visit approximately 10,500 stores and clubs under 48 banners in 24 countries and eCommerce websites. With fiscal year 2021 revenue of $559 billion, Walmart employs 2.2 million associates worldwide. Walmart continues to be a leader in sustainability, corporate philanthropy and employment opportunity. Additional information about Walmart can be found by visiting corporate.walmart.com, on Facebook at facebook.com/walmart and on Twitter at twitter.com/walmart.

About Swasti

Swasti, a part of the Catalyst Group, is headquartered in Bengaluru, India and active globally with a footprint in 30 countries, was founded in 2004. Swasti co-designs demonstrable and scalable solution models in partnership with communities on the ground, and influences policies nationally and internationally. Over the past 15 years, Swasti has directly reached over 400,000 people through its initiatives, including more than 238,000 factory workers, the majority of whom are women.

Walmart and Flipkart announce MoU with Uttar Pradesh government to train and support local MSMEs

Posted on January 6, 2022 - 1:45 pm by

MOU signed in the presence of Shri Sidharth Nath Singh, Minister of MSME, Govt. of Uttar Pradesh, to help MSMEs in the state with capacity building and support, enabling them to expand their domestic and export capabilities

 

Lucknow, India, January 6, 2022: Walmart and Flipkart today announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Export Promotion Bureau, Government of Uttar Pradesh, to create an ecosystem aiding capacity building for MSMEs in the state. Under the partnership, Walmart and Flipkart will help MSMEs digitize their businesses and enable them to sell products across India through online retail. They will also have an opportunity to unlock their export potential and become part of Walmart’s global supply chain.

In collaboration with Swasti, the Walmart Vriddhi Supplier Development Program (Walmart Vriddhi) provides a comprehensive learning platform that includes growth opportunities, free-of-cost training and in-depth expert support to entrepreneurs and small businesses. It also organizes training seminars and mentorship workshops to further enable the growth and development of small and medium businesses. The program pivoted to a digital format in 2020 and Vriddhi e-institutes have since been launched in Panipat, Haryana and Agra, Uttar Pradesh, and with plans to open many more.

On the signing of the MoU, Shri Sidharth Nath Singh, Minister of MSME, Investment and Export, Textile, Khadi & Gram Udyog, Government of Uttar Pradesh, said, “MSMEs from Uttar Pradesh are being recognized the world over, registering record exports this year. With schemes like Ubharte Sitaare and ODOP, the Government of Uttar Pradesh is at the forefront of developing a vibrant ecosystem for the MSME sector in the state, helping them boost exports and venture into new markets. We are happy to collaborate with Walmart Vriddhi and Flipkart, and shall provide our guidance and support required to strengthen MSMEs to achieve greater success through the program.”

Launched in 2019, Walmart Vriddhi aims to train 50,000 Indian MSMEs with the business skills necessary to succeed as suppliers to Walmart, sellers on Flipkart, and other domestic and global marketplace platforms. Thousands of Vriddhi MSME graduates across multiple states are being trained to expand their domestic capabilities and participate in global supply chains, helping them build sustainable businesses, generate employment, and increase exports. The program provides a digitally enhanced learning experience through online modules with personalized feedback and one-on-one advisory sessions.

Commenting on the partnership, Nidhi Munjal, Vice President, International Partnership Services, Walmart said, “We look forward to expanding our ongoing partnership with the Government of Uttar Pradesh and supporting their efforts to build a robust MSME ecosystem, by providing opportunities to access online and offline markets in India and globally through local training and support. We are committed to tripling our exports from India to $10 billion annually by 2027, and will keep extending our support to small businesses, enabling them to grow and prosper in India and globally.”

Jagjeet Harode, Senior Director & Head – Marketplace, Flipkart, said, “Flipkart’s partnership with the Government of Uttar Pradesh on the ODOP scheme has been a huge success, registering 52% quarterly growth since January 2020, across various product categories. Through programs like Walmart Vriddhi and Flipkart Samarth, we are committed to empowering Uttar Pradesh’s MSMEs, artisans and craftsmen and will continue providing them with the ecosystem support they require to grow and benefit through pan-India access for eCommerce marketplace operations.”

N Raghunathan, Cofounder and Mentor, Swasti, said, “This partnership with the Government of Uttar Pradesh will greatly enhance the growth and development of MSMEs in the state. Through the Vriddhi program, we are committed to helping local businesses build resilience for the future and facilitating their participation in national and global supply chains.”

 

About Walmart

Walmart Inc. (NYSE: WMT) helps people around the world save money and live better – anytime and anywhere – in retail stores, online, and through their mobile devices. Each week, approximately 220 million customers and members visit approximately 10,500 stores and clubs under 48 banners in 24 countries and eCommerce websites. With fiscal year 2021 revenue of $559 billion, Walmart employs 2.2 million associates worldwide. Walmart continues to be a leader in sustainability, corporate philanthropy, and employment opportunity. Additional information about Walmart can be found by visiting corporate.walmart.com, on Facebook at facebook.com/walmart and on Twitter at twitter.com/walmart.

About Swasti

Swasti, a part of the Catalyst Group, is headquartered in Bengaluru, India and active globally with a footprint in 30 countries, was founded in 2004. Swasti co-designs demonstrable and scalable solution models in partnership with communities on the ground and influences policies nationally and internationally. Over the past 15 years, Swasti has directly reached over 400,000 people through its initiatives, including more than 238,000 factory workers, the majority of whom are women.

Walmart and Flipkart celebrate Vriddhi graduates: 2,500 MSMEs on a path to enhancing their capabilities in domestic markets

Posted on September 29, 2021 - 6:30 pm by

Trained MSMEs across India awarded certification in the presence of Shri Sidharth Nath Singh, Hon’ble Minister of MSME, Investment and Export, Textile, Khadi & Gram Udyog, Government of Uttar Pradesh

BENTONVILLE, Ark., and BENGALURU, India, September 29, 2021: Walmart and Flipkart today hosted a virtual Graduation Day event for the first group of graduating micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) under the Walmart Vriddhi Supplier Development Program (Walmart Vriddhi). Over 2,500 MSMEs from across India received certificates in the presence of Shri Sidharth Nath Singh, Hon’ble Minister of MSME, Investment and Export, Textile, Khadi & Gram Udyog, Government of Uttar Pradesh, along with Walmart and Flipkart leadership. The occasion recognized MSMEs who have partnered with Walmart and Flipkart to complete the first phase of the Vriddhi program. Through this training, graduating entrepreneurs have been empowered with modern business management frameworks that can help them modernize and meet their growth ambitions by embracing India’s digital retail revolution.

The first phase is part of Walmart Vriddhi, a comprehensive growth and learning platform comprising of training and in-depth expert support.  The different phases in the program give MSMEs access to advanced business tools and strategies, as well as one-on-one expert consultation, to help them unlock their entrepreneurial capacity, modernize their business, and thrive. Graduating entrepreneurs are already experiencing growth, with many expanding their digital capabilities and selling across India through the Flipkart marketplace. The program has also supported MSMEs to grow their peer networks. The Walmart Vriddhi program is delivered by program partner Swasti.

On the occasion, Shri Sidharth Nath Singh, Hon’ble Minister of MSME, Investment and Export, Textile, Khadi & Gram Udyog, Government of Uttar Pradesh, said, “I congratulate all businesses that are augmenting their learning in their quest to embrace new markets and growth despite multiple challenges. I would encourage more MSMEs to take advantage of programs such as Walmart Vriddhi to enhance their business capabilities, become self-reliant and further strengthen India’s position as an export hub. Empowering small businesses to stretch their wings is a key priority for the Government. To promote exports further, we are setting up overseas trade promotion and facilitation centers in all 75 districts of the state of Uttar Pradesh.”

Leigh Hopkins, Executive Vice President, International Strategy, Development and Asia Region, Walmart International, said, “Walmart is proud to announce the graduation of over 2,500 MSMEs of the Walmart Vriddhi program today. We are delighted to be able to support small business owners’ growth ambitions with this program. Walmart has an ongoing commitment of tripling exports from India by 2027 to $10 billion annually, and we look forward to supporting more small businesses in their efforts by providing potential access to online and offline markets in India.”

Many local home-grown brands have already benefited from training from the Vriddhi program.

  • Healthy Fibres has started selling on the Flipkart marketplace to complement its physical channels and reach a national market. It plans to open a network of experience stores pan-India and is ambitious to also reach overseas markets in the future.
  • Scraft Products leveraged the skills and contacts it had built through Walmart Vriddhi to create new product lines when the pandemic disrupted its business. It is now working towards achieving at least 25% of its pre-COVID sales from exports.
  • Jutex India has joined the Flipkart marketplace and been empowered to better leverage market dynamics and enhance its performance, despite challenging circumstances.
  • Plus Creations, which manufactures more sustainable food packing, already sells in India and abroad. It is now using eCommerce to increase its footprint across India, and is exploring new markets.

 

Walmart and Flipkart expect many more entrepreneurs to graduate from the Vriddhi program over the next few months. Small businesses are the backbone of India’s economy and Walmart and Flipkart look forward to partnering with them and providing access to online and offline markets in India.

Adarsh Menon, Senior Vice President and Head, Flipkart Wholesale, said, ” We are truly excited to see the graduating entrepreneurs who are digital-ready and getting ready to be part of India’s continuing economic growth story. We are proud that there are already around 3.75 lakh Indian sellers on the Flipkart marketplace today, a majority of which are MSMEs. Through additional support such as the Flipkart Samarth program, we are also enhancing access to markets for artisans, weavers, and other small businesses. Digital upskilling helps MSMEs boost their businesses, weather industry challenges and strengthen the eCommerce ecosystem.”

As part of continuing efforts to support small businesses, Walmart and Flipkart recently announced a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of Haryana, and the Government of Tamil Nadu respectively through the Walmart Vriddhi program to enhance the growth and development of MSMEs in those states.

Walmart Vriddhi was launched in 2019, to empower 50,000 MSMEs across India, over five years. Vriddhi e-Institutes have since been launched in Panipat, Agra, and are moving to open much more, to provide a digitally enhanced learning experience with personalized feedback and one-on-one advisory sessions. MSMEs enrolled in the program have benefitted from actionable advice through Vriddhi Cares, a tailored program to help them navigate the impact of COVID-19 on their workforce and business.

About Walmart

Walmart Inc. (NYSE: WMT) helps people around the world save money and live better – anytime and anywhere – in retail stores, online, and through their mobile devices. Each week, approximately 220 million customers and members visit approximately 10,500 stores and clubs under 48 banners in 24 countries and eCommerce websites. With fiscal year 2021 revenue of $559 billion, Walmart employs 2.2 million associates worldwide. Walmart continues to be a leader in sustainability, corporate philanthropy, and employment opportunity. Additional information about Walmart can be found by visiting corporate.walmart.com, on Facebook at facebook.com/walmart and on Twitter at twitter.com/walmart.

About Flipkart Group

The Flipkart Group is one of India’s leading digital commerce entities and includes group companies Flipkart, Myntra, and Flipkart Wholesale. Started in 2007, Flipkart has enabled millions of consumers, sellers, merchants, and small businesses to be a part of India’s eCommerce revolution, with a registered customer base of over 300 million, offering over 150 million products across 80+ categories. Our efforts to democratise eCommerce in India, drive access and affordability, delight customers, create lakhs of jobs in the ecosystem and empower generations of entrepreneurs and MSMEs have inspired us to innovate on many industry firsts. The recent launch of Flipkart Wholesale, our new digital marketplace, is a testament to our commitment to accelerate the growth of kiranas and MSMEs in India. Flipkart is known for pioneering services such as Cash on Delivery, No Cost EMI and easy returns – customer-centric innovations that have made online shopping more accessible and affordable for millions of Indians. Together with Myntra, which holds a prominent position in the online fashion market, and now Flipkart Wholesale, the Flipkart Group will continue to steer the transformation of commerce in India through technology.

 

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