According to a senior Walmart executive, Walmart recently launched an initiative to link micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) with its supply chain with an objective to create the first hub in India by March 2020. Under the development programme titled Walmart Vriddhi, Walmart aims to train and prepare 50,000 Indian small businesses to “Make in India” for global supply chains. The US company aims to create 25 such hubs across the country.
This move comes at a time when top foreign retail players are facing criticism from small and medium retailers. The foreign retailers are keen to showcase their efforts to link MSMEs into the global market place. Amazon too has launched a programme for MSMEs to conduct various activities such as a series of awareness workshop, roadshows, and e-commerce training at pre-identified industrial clusters.
According to Judith McKenna, President and CEO of Walmart International, the Vriddhi programme will encourage Indian suppliers to make for online and offline customers around the world, including but not limited to the supply chains of Flipkart and Walmart. “That openness makes us unique and truly create opportunities for those who participate. Whether a supplier has ambitions domestically or around the globe, Walmart Vriddhi will give them the tools they need to succeed,” added McKenna.
