HT Bureau
GUWAHATI, Feb 13: Walmart proudly announced today the successful culmination of its ambitious supplier development program, Walmart Vriddhi, which has surpassed its target by empowering more than 50,000 Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) across India within five years.
The program, launched in December 2019, offers free training, mentoring, and digital tools aimed at facilitating the growth and integration of businesses into domestic supply chains. Partnering with Swasti, Walmart’s program extends access to training, mentorship, and business guidance to local suppliers, leveraging Flipkart’s platform expertise.
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The comprehensive digital training provided covers essential aspects of business management, including finance, marketing, workforce management, and environmental sustainability, empowering entrepreneurs to establish sustainable business models and contribute to local employment opportunities.
Accessible across India, the program has made significant strides in key centres such as Moradabad, Agra, Panipat, Bhopal, Surat, Guwahati, and Tirupur, connecting MSMEs with consumers nationwide through collaborations with respective state governments. Graduates of the Walmart Vriddhi program, integrated into the Flipkart Marketplace, have witnessed a remarkable approximately 55% year-on-year growth.
Jason Fremstad, Senior Vice President, Supplier Development, Walmart, lauded the dedication of over 50,000 Walmart Vriddhi graduates, emphasizing the program’s robust curriculum, effective delivery, and valuable partnerships. He expressed anticipation for these businesses to reinvest in their communities, generate employment opportunities, stimulate local economies, and contribute to India’s economic growth. Joseph Julian, Program Director at Swasti, expressed pride in the partnership’s role in digitizing and empowering over 50,000 MSMEs through the Walmart Vriddhi program. He underscored the importance of comprehensive support systems for entrepreneurs and reiterated Swasti’s commitment to supporting MSMEs through tailored learning modules.
Narayan Rane, Minister of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises of India, stated, “As India advances towards achieving a $5 trillion economy, a substantial portion of this growth will be driven by a competitive and productive MSME sector, serving as a catalyst for economic expansion and job creation. The government actively supports the promotion and development of the MSME sector across all states.” He praised initiatives like the Walmart Vriddhi program for facilitating the digital transformation and growth of MSMEs. He commended the Walmart and Flipkart team for providing over 50,000 Vriddhi graduates with opportunities to unlock market opportunities.
