Flipkart to help this state’s small businesses, artisans sell online; to offer incubation, training, more

Technology for MSMEs: Walmart-owned Flipkart has expanded its Samarth programme to small businesses and artisans based in Tamil Nadu. The e-commerce company on Thursday announced a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with the state’s MSME Trade and Investment Promotion Bureau (MTIPB) to onboard local artisans, weavers, craftsmen, and small businesses of the state onto its marketplace. MTIPB will support Flipkart Group’s engagement with state-owned/affiliated enterprises and undertakings such as Tamil Nadu COIR Cooperative Marketing Federation, tea co-operative federation Indcoserve, co-operative society for sago and starch manufacturers Sagoserve, Industrial Co-operative Societies, etc., that work with local artisans, weavers, crafts producers, and farmers. Flipkart will offer market access training and support to small businesses under the initiative.

“There are 294 Industrial Cooperative Societies functioning under the department. Many of them are involved in the production of handicraft items including GI registered products. This MoU will provide these societies with a new vigour and link them to a national market for their products,” said Anu George, IAS, Industries Commissioner and Director of Industries & Commerce, Govt. of Tamil Nadu in a statement. The state government had recently announced its MSME Policy 2021 and has set a target to attract new investments worth Rs 2 trillion in the sector by 2025 and create additional employment opportunities for 2 million people.