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.
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.
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 and globally.”
Many local home-grown brands have already benefited from training from the Vriddhi program.
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 and around the world.
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.
