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.