Walmart, Flipkart mentor 2,500 MSMEs for digital retail foray

Lucknow

Modern retail majors Walmart and Flipkart have empowered about 2,500 micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) with contemporary business management frameworks to help them onboard the digital retail bandwagon.

On September 29, the two companies hosted a virtual ‘Graduation Day’ event for the first group of graduating MSMEs under the flagship ‘Walmart Vriddhi Supplier Development Program’ (Walmart Vriddhi).

More than 2,500 Indian MSMEs, who have partnered Walmart and Flipkart for Walmart Vriddhi, received certificates in the virtual presence of Uttar Pradesh MSME and export promotion minister Sidharth Nath Singh.

With the training, the 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 module consisted of a comprehensive growth and learning platform comprising training and in-depth expert support. The Walmart Vriddhi program is delivered by Swasti.

According to Walmart, the different phases will give MSMEs access to advanced business tools and strategies as well as expert consultation to allow them “unlock their entrepreneurial capacity.”

In his address, Singh encouraged MSMEs to take advantage of the Walmart program to enhance their business capabilities, become self-reliant and strengthen India’s position as an export hub.

“Empowering small businesses to stretch their wings is a key priority for the (state) government. To promote exports further, we are setting up overseas trade promotion and facilitation centres in all 75 districts of the state,” he informed.

Meanwhile, Leigh Hopkins, Executive Vice President, International Strategy, Development and Asia Region, Walmart International, said, “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.”

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 and Agra, and are moving to open more to provide digitally enhanced learning with personalized feedback and advisory sessions.