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Global retail giant Walmart has announced plans to connect an additional 1 lakh Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in India to its Walmart Vriddhi supplier development programme over the next three years. The initiative, aimed at equipping MSMEs with the tools to scale and integrate into national and global supply chains, marks a major expansion of the company’s ongoing support for small businesses in India.
The new phase of Vriddhi will be implemented in collaboration with the Ideas to Impact Foundation (i2i), combining Walmart’s global sourcing capabilities with Flipkart’s e-commerce ecosystem to broaden market access for Indian entrepreneurs.
“As we approach the next phase of the Walmart Vriddhi programme, we are very excited to announce our partnership with Ideas to Impact Foundation to empower an additional 100,000 MSMEs over the next three years,” said Jason Fremstad, Senior Vice President of Supplier Development – Sourcing at Walmart International.
Walmart’s enhanced MSME engagement will also support its ambitious goal of sourcing $10 billion worth of goods annually from India for its global operations by 2027. The company has already sourced over $30 billion in products from India over the past two decades.
Launched in 2019, the Vriddhi programme has so far supported over 70,000 MSMEs by providing access to digital tools, mentorship, and strategic partnerships. The upcoming expansion will introduce new training modules focused on sustainable business growth, export readiness, and visual merchandising.
Rajneesh Kumar, Senior Vice President and Chief Corporate Affairs Officer at Flipkart Group, emphasized the broader impact of such initiatives. “Through strategic collaborations like Walmart Vriddhi, we are enabling entrepreneurs to scale and significantly contribute to India’s growing digital economy,” he said.
Flipkart’s “Samarth” initiative, which promotes Indian artisans, weavers, and micro-enterprises, now features a dedicated section on its app to highlight locally made products.
Walmart’s continued investment in India reflects a dual strategy: empowering small businesses while strengthening its sourcing network. The company’s expanded product sourcing portfolio now includes toys, footwear, bicycles, food, pharmaceuticals, and wellness items—underscoring India’s role as a key hub in Walmart’s global supply chain.
(Source: PTI)
