Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, January 15, 2026: In a significant step towards strengthening Uttar Pradesh’s leadership in MSME growth and eCommerce exports, the Government of Uttar Pradesh, through its Export Promotion Bureau, Department of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and Export Promotion, Government of Uttar Pradesh, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Walmart Vriddhi, through its implementation partner in India, Ideas to Impact Foundation, last week. Signed under the “From Local to Global” mission of GoI, this collaboration is designed to provide free of cost training to MSMEs across Uttar Pradesh to grow and scale their products, digitize and activate on eCommerce platforms, where they have an opportunity to display their products and participate in national and global supply chains.
Through this partnership, handholding support shall be provided to MSMEs in UP for onboarding on the Flipkart and Walmart Marketplaces.
“MSMEs are the backbone of Uttar Pradesh’s economy, driving employment, innovation, and inclusive growth across the state. With a strong entrepreneurial base, and rich manufacturing and handicraft clusters, Uttar Pradesh is well-positioned to emerge as a leading eCommerce export hub,” said Shri Alok Kumar, IAS, Additional Chief Secretary, Department of MSME & Export Promotion, Government of Uttar Pradesh. “This vision is actively advanced through the Uttar Pradesh Export Promotion Policy 2025–30, which places a strong emphasis on eCommerce exports. Under the E-commerce Onboarding Assistance Scheme, the State Government provides a one-time incentive of 75% of fees, capped at INR 3 lakh, to support first-year listing of exporters on international platforms, reduce entry barriers, and accelerate MSME integration into global digital marketplaces. This partnership with Walmart Vriddhi is a significant step forward in equipping our businesses with the skills, digital tools, and market access they need to thrive in today’s fast-evolving marketplace.”
“Uttar Pradesh is home to some of India’s most dynamic and entrepreneurial MSMEs. We see immense potential here—not just to contribute to the state’s growth, but to power national and global supply chains,” added Jason Fremstad, Senior Vice President of Supplier Development, Sourcing, Walmart International. “Through Walmart Vriddhi, we’re excited to partner with the Government of Uttar Pradesh to bring world-class training and support to local businesses, helping them strengthen their capabilities, adopt digital tools, and unlock new market opportunities.”
“Walmart Marketplace is dedicated to opening new avenues for India’s MSME ecosystem, enabling local businesses to strengthen their capabilities, scale operations, and connect with global customers”, said Ashin Mathew, Group Director, Walmart Cross-Border Trade. “By empowering entrepreneurs, we are championing innovation, streamlining supply chains, and expanding access to international markets.”
Walmart Vriddhi continues its on-ground MSME empowerment initiatives in the state, including the recent MSME Connect event held in the district of Mau and a focused workshop in Moradabad. These events brought together entrepreneurs, government leaders, and industry partners to share opportunities and strengthen digital and operational skills for MSMEs.
Entrepreneurs in the state who have undergone the Walmart Vriddhi training are seeing tangible results. For example, RenHomz, led by Renuka Mishra, improved packaging, pricing, and product readiness with personalized mentorship, empowering over 150 women artisans and achieving 200% growth in revenue. Sanjay Kumar, founder of Prateek Enterprises, scaled his safety nets business by strengthening digital capabilities, driving growth in online demand, expanding his presence on Flipkart and growing his monthly revenues from ₹50,000 to over ₹10 lakh while also building a larger team.
Launched in 2019, Walmart Vriddhi is dedicated to helping MSMEs modernize, scale, and reach new markets. The program combines Walmart’s global supply chain expertise with Flipkart’s eCommerce reach, offering free training, mentoring, and business advice.
Walmart Vriddhi has trained over 70,000 MSMEs till date. The program will continue to expand by partnering with more state governments, helping MSMEs access digital tools, training, and new market opportunities. To join Walmart Vriddhi and unlock growth opportunities, MSMEs can register at https://retaillink.login.wal-mart.com/. Sellers aiming to sell internationally through Walmart Marketplace can register at https://www.walmartvriddhi.org/register-with-walmart-marketplace.
Walmart Inc. (NYSE: WMT) is a people-led, tech-powered omnichannel retailer helping people save money and live better — anytime and anywhere — in stores, online, and through their mobile devices. Each week, approximately 270 million customers and members visit more than 10,750 stores and numerous eCommerce websites in 19 countries. With fiscal year 2025 revenue of $681 billion, Walmart employs approximately 2.1 million associates worldwide. Walmart continues to be a leader in sustainability, corporate philanthropy, and employment opportunity. Additional information about Walmart can be found by visiting corporate.walmart.com, on Facebook at facebook.com/walmart , on X (formerly known as Twitter) at Walmart (@Walmart) / X and on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/company/walmart
Ideas to Impact (i2i) Foundation, implementation partner of Walmart Vriddhi, is a nonprofit committed to driving sustainable human development through innovative, community-focused solutions. i2i partners with governments, civil society, and corporates to create scalable programs that empower marginalized communities and support the Sustainable Development Goals. The Foundation’s work spans education, health, environment, and gender inclusion, focusing on building resilient, inclusive societies. Rooted in collaboration and transparency, i2i Foundation strives to create a lasting positive impact for a better future. Additional information about Ideas to Impact Foundation can be found by visiting:
i2ifoundation.org/about-i2i-foundation
For more information, Contact
wmintmediainquiry@wal-mart.com
Dignitaries Present
The MoU signing ceremony was attended by Shri Alok Kumar, IAS, Additional Chief Secretary (Infrastructure & Industrial Development, MSME & Export Promotion, NRI Affairs), Government of Uttar Pradesh, Shri Pawan Agarwal, Additional Commissioner, Exports along with other officials from the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB).
Senior representatives from Walmart, Flipkart, and its implementation partner, Ideas to Impact Foundation, were also present, including Mr. Nittin Dutt, Senior Director – Supplier Development (India), Sourcing, Walmart International; Mr. Santosh Kumar Wagh, Senior Manager – Supplier Development (India), Sourcing, Walmart International; Mr. Rajat Dutta, Senior Manager – Outbound, Walmart Cross Border Trade; Mr. Parul Soni, Founder and Trustee, Ideas to Impact Foundation; and Mr. Shantanu Srivastava, Executive Director – Government Affairs, Ideas to Impact Foundation.
To create a platform for MSMEs to engage with digital commerce and market access opportunities, Walmart Vriddhi hosted MSME Connect 2025 in Mau on December 26, 2025, at Hotel The R.S. Palace, Mau, Uttar Pradesh. The event brought together over 400 delegates, senior government officials, representatives from business associations, and members of the city administration. Shri Rajiv Rai, Hon’ble Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha, and Shri Badruddin Khan Burney, Former Secretary, India Islamic Cultural Centre, joined the occasion as the Chief Guest and Guest of Honour, respectively.
Bringing MSMEs together, the event highlighted eCommerce opportunities and market access through national (Flipkart) and international marketplaces (Walmart Marketplace). Walmart Vriddhi MSME Connect Mau 2025 also witnessed participation from representatives of key institutions and industry bodies, including SIDBI and Dak Niryat Kendra (India Post), along with local leadership such as Shri Arshad Jamal from the Nagar Palika Parishad and Shri Jamal Arpan, President of the Mau Saree Vyapar Association.
In the opening session, Parul Soni, Trustee, Ideas to Impact Foundation, highlighted Walmart Vriddhi’s catalytic role in equipping MSMEs with digital tools and personalized mentorship, enabling entrepreneurs to scale their businesses from Mau to national and global markets. Introducing the Walmart Vriddhi Program, Shambhu Nair, Manager – Cross Border Trade, Walmart India, outlined how the initiative supports MSMEs through structured learning, business tools and access to new marketplaces.
Shri Badruddin Khan Burney, Former Secretary of the India Islamic Cultural Centre, underscored Mau’s vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem and highlighted the importance of initiatives such as Walmart Vriddhi in enabling MSMEs to modernize their operations and scale to larger markets. Shri Rajiv Rai, Hon’ble Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha, highlighted Uttar Pradesh’s robust MSME landscape and emphasised the critical role of digital adoption, capability building, and how initiatives like Walmart Vriddhi support local entrepreneurs to achieve sustainable business growth.
The event also featured an experience-sharing session by Walmart Vriddhi graduates Renuka Mishra, Founder of RenHomz and Deepak Rai, Owner of Alpinista, who spoke about how the program’s mentorship and digital enablement strengthened their business operations. Walmart Vriddhi mentor Rajiv Bajaj reflected on his experience supporting entrepreneurs through the program and discussed the role of mentorship and strategic guidance in strengthening business capabilities.
During the orientation session, Ravikant Suman, Head – Academy & Mentoring, Ideas to Impact Foundation, briefed MSMEs on the program’s training modules, mentorship structure, and onboarding process. In the Cross Border Trade (CBT) session, Shambhu Nair, Manager – Cross Border Trade, Walmart in India emphasized the importance of taking Indian MSMEs to global customers through Walmart.com.
Discussions highlighted the role of collaborative program such as Walmart Vriddhi in empowering MSME inclusion through public–private partnerships. Delegates also discussed the need to expand the program’s presence in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities to engage MSME clusters and facilitate onboarding onto marketplaces such as Flipkart and Walmart Marketplace.
The sessions noted that the alignment of government leadership and program expertise creates an enabling environment for MSMEs to adopt digital commerce and participate in formal market systems. Districts such as Mau were cited as examples of clusters with significant MSME potential, where targeted digital enablement can connect local enterprises to national and global marketplaces, unlocking opportunities for cross-border trade and export-oriented growth.
Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, November 25, 2025 — Walmart Vriddhi through its program partner Ideas to Impact Foundation, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of Andhra Pradesh’s Department of Industries & Commerce. The collaboration will help strengthen the state’s MSME ecosystem with free-of-cost training and personalized mentoring over the next three years through the Walmart Vriddhi program.
The MoU, formalized at the CII Partnership Summit 2025 in Vishakhapatnam, marks a significant step in Walmart Vriddhi’s efforts to empower an additional 100,000 MSMEs by 2028. The program will offer masterclasses and workshops across Andhra Pradesh, to equip MSMEs with the tools to modernize, scale, and expand their reach into domestic and international eCommerce platforms like Flipkart and Walmart Marketplace.
Guided by the Government of Andhra Pradesh’s vision to prioritize MSME growth under the AP MSME and Entrepreneurship Development Policy (2024–29) – One Family, One Entrepreneur, the program aligns with the goal of building an entrepreneurial household culture by 2030.
The MoU will focus on priority clusters such as silk and garments, food processing (including cashews, coffee, and spices), jewelry, artificial diamonds, brassware, coir, engineering, handicrafts, and wooden furniture. The rollout will begin in districts including Visakhapatnam, Guntur, and Krishna, and later expand into Ananthapur, East and West Godavari, Nellore, Kurnool, Chittoor, and Prakasam.
Shri Kondapalli Srinivas, Hon’ble Minister for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises said, Andhra Pradesh is rapidly emerging as a premier investment destination, driven by good governance and an investor-friendly environment. Leveraging its rich natural resources, the state offers a skilled workforce, a vibrant MSME ecosystem, progressive policies, 175 plug-and-play MSME Parks and world-class facilities like the Ratan Tata Innovation Hub—creating opportunities to integrate businesses into global value chains and strengthen manufacturing capabilities.
Jason Fremstad, Senior Vice President of Supplier Development, Sourcing, Walmart International, said, “Andhra Pradesh’s vibrant entrepreneurial spirit makes it an ideal place for MSME-driven growth. Through Walmart Vriddhi, we’re committed to empowering local businesses with the digital tools, training, and market access they need to compete and grow sustainably. By supporting MSMEs, we’re helping to build stronger communities and drive long-term success together.”
Launched in 2019, Walmart Vriddhi is a supplier development program tailored to empower MSMEs in India to modernize, scale and meet their domestic and international ambitions. The program brings together Walmart’s global supply chain expertise and Flipkart’s nationwide eCommerce reach, offering MSMEs access to free-of-cost training, mentoring and business advice on finance, marketing, workforce management logistics, among others. Since its launch in 2019, Walmart Vriddhi has successfully trained over 70,000 MSMEs in India.
To capitalize on the Walmart Vriddhi program, MSMEs can register here to unlock growth opportunities:https://retaillink.login.wal-mart.com/. Sellers aiming to sell internationally through Walmart Marketplace can register through this link: https://www.walmartvriddhi.org/register-with-walmart-marketplace.
Walmart Inc. (NYSE: WMT) is a people-led, tech-powered omnichannel retailer helping people save money and live better — anytime and anywhere — in stores, online, and through their mobile devices. Each week, approximately 270 million customers and members visit more than 10,750 stores and numerous eCommerce websites in 19 countries. With fiscal year 2025 revenue of $681 billion, Walmart employs approximately 2.1 million associates worldwide. Walmart continues to be a leader in sustainability, corporate philanthropy, and employment opportunity. Additional information about Walmart can be found by visiting corporate.walmart.com.
Ideas to Impact (i2i) Foundation, implementation partner of Walmart Vriddhi, is a nonprofit committed to driving sustainable human development through innovative, community-focused solutions. i2i partners with governments, civil society, and corporates to create scalable programs that empower marginalized communities and support the Sustainable Development Goals. The Foundation’s work spans education, health, environment, and gender inclusion, focusing on building resilient, inclusive societies. Rooted in collaboration and transparency, i2i Foundation strives to create a lasting positive impact for a better future. Additional information about Ideas to Impact Foundation can be found by visiting:
i2ifoundation.org/about-i2i-foundation
For more information, Contact
PANIPAT, Haryana, October 29, 2025: Walmart Vriddhi, in partnership with Ideas to Impact Foundation (i2i), hosted the Walmart Vriddhi MSME Connect 2025 in Panipat, Haryana, in collaboration with the Directorate of MSME, Government of Haryana. The event brought together entrepreneurs, government officials, and industry leaders to strengthen the MSME ecosystem in the state and highlight the opportunities available through the Walmart Vriddhi Supplier Development Program.
This initiative is part of Walmart Vriddhi’s ongoing efforts to support MSMEs in Haryana by providing training, market access, and tools to build resilient, digitally enabled businesses.
The program focuses on specialized training, workshops, and seminars to enhance MSME skills. In its current phase, the program is prioritizing export-ready industry clusters, including textiles, apparel, home furnishings, handlooms, handicrafts, food processing and beverages, leather, and footwear. It is also expanding its reach to MSME clusters in Gurugram, Faridabad, Hisar, and Rohtak.
Launched in 2019, Walmart Vriddhi is designed to empower MSMEs across India to modernize, scale, and achieve their domestic and international ambitions. Earlier this year, Walmart Vriddhi through its program partner signed an MoU with the Government of Haryana to strengthen MSME capabilities and facilitate their onboarding onto Flipkart and Walmart Marketplace. This collaboration supports the “Make in India” initiative, enabling local businesses to expand their presence in national and international markets.
“MSMEs form the foundation of Haryana’s economy and are key drivers of employment, innovation, and inclusive growth. Over the past years, the state government has rolled out policies like PADMA (Programme to Accelerate Development for MSME Advancement) to catalyze local enterprise hubs and infrastructure support.” said Sushil Sarwan, Deputy Commissioner Sonipat, Government of Haryana. “The state remains committed to strengthening the MSME ecosystem by creating an environment that supports modernization, market readiness, and competitiveness, helping local enterprises expand their presence.”
“Initiatives that help strengthen the capabilities and competitiveness of our MSMEs are always welcome,” said Vikas Jangra, Joint Director, District MSME Centre, Panipat. “Programs such as Walmart Vriddhi complement the state’s efforts by supporting entrepreneurs in modernizing operations, adopting digital practices, and expanding their market reach, which together contribute to Haryana’s MSME growth story.”
“At Walmart, we are committed to empowering India’s MSMEs, which play a critical role in driving inclusive and sustainable economic growth,” said Jason Fremstad, Senior Vice President, Supplier Development, Walmart. “Through Walmart Vriddhi, we aim to provide entrepreneurs with the training, tools, and market access they need to scale successfully in today’s dynamic business environment.”
Ashin Mathew, Group Director, Cross Border Trade, Walmart International said, “Walmart Marketplace is excited to support entrepreneurs in Haryana as they unlock new growth opportunities. By combining global expertise with local talent, we are helping small businesses realize their export ambitions, drive innovation, and contribute to India’s growth story.”
Rajneesh Kumar, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, Flipkart Group said, “MSMEs are central to India’s growth story, and at Flipkart, we are committed to enabling their success through digital commerce. By combining Flipkart’s reach with Walmart Vriddhi’s training, we are creating new pathways for Haryana’s MSMEs to scale locally.”
Walmart Vriddhi combines Walmart’s global supply chain expertise with Flipkart’s extensive eCommerce network, offering MSMEs free training, mentoring, and business advice on topics like finance, marketing, workforce management, and logistics. To date, the program has successfully trained over 70,000 MSMEs in India and aims to empower an additional 100,000 by 2028.
To capitalize on the Walmart Vriddhi program, MSMEs can register here to unlock growth opportunities: https://retaillink.login.wal-mart.com/. Sellers aiming to sell internationally through Walmart Marketplace can register through this link: https://www.walmartvriddhi.org/register-with-walmart-marketplace.
Walmart Inc. (NYSE: WMT) is a people-led, tech-powered omnichannel retailer helping people save money and live better — anytime and anywhere — in stores, online, and through their mobile devices. Each week, approximately 270 million customers and members visit more than 10,750 stores and numerous eCommerce websites in 19 countries. With fiscal year 2025 revenue of $681 billion, Walmart employs approximately 2.1 million associates worldwide. Walmart continues to be a leader in sustainability, corporate philanthropy, and employment opportunity. Additional information about Walmart can be found by visiting corporate.walmart.com, on Facebook at facebook.com/walmart , on X (formerly known as Twitter) at Walmart (@Walmart) / X and on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/company/walmart
The Flipkart Group is one of India’s leading digital commerce entities and includes group companies Flipkart, Myntra, Flipkart Wholesale, Cleartrip, and super.money. Established in 2007, Flipkart has enabled millions of sellers, merchants, and small businesses to participate in India’s digital commerce revolution. With a registered user base of more than 500 million, Flipkart’s marketplace offers over 150 million products across 80+ categories. Today, there are over 1.4 million sellers on the platform, including Shopsy sellers. With a focus on empowering and delighting every Indian by delivering value through technology and innovation, Flipkart has created thousands of jobs in the ecosystem while empowering generations of entrepreneurs and MSMEs. Flipkart has pioneered services such as Cash on Delivery, No Cost EMI, Easy Returns, and UPI. These customer-centric innovations focus on enhancing digital payment offerings for all customers while making online shopping more accessible and affordable for millions of Indians.
Ideas to Impact (i2i) Foundation, implementation partner of Walmart Vriddhi, is a nonprofit committed to driving sustainable human development through innovative, community-focused solutions. i2i partners with governments, civil society, and corporates to create scalable programs that empower marginalized communities and support the Sustainable Development Goals. The Foundation’s work spans education, health, environment, and gender inclusion, focusing on building resilient, inclusive societies. Rooted in collaboration and transparency, i2i Foundation strives to create a lasting positive impact for a better future. Additional information about Ideas to Impact Foundation can be found by visiting:
i2ifoundation.org/about-i2i-foundation
For more information, Contact
Walmart Vriddhi, as part of its ongoing efforts to enable and empower MSMEs in India, hosted the Walmart Vriddhi MSME Connect 2025 in Panipat on October 29, 2025, at Days Hotel by Wyndham. Organized in collaboration with the Directorate of MSME, Government of Haryana, the event witnessed the participation of over 130 delegates, government officials, and representatives from eleven industry associations. Dr. Pankaj, IAS, Additional Deputy Commissioner and Commissioner, Municipal Council, Panipat, and Sh. Vikas Jangra, Joint Director, District MSME Centre, Panipat, graced the occasion as the Chief Guests.
The event highlighted Walmart Vriddhi’s partnership with the Government of Haryana to strengthen key industry clusters and showcased inspiring MSME success stories. It also underscored Walmart’s commitment to enable MSMEs with digital training, market access, and personalized mentoring support.
The event saw participation from representatives of key industry bodies such as the Haryana Chamber of Commerce & Industries (District Unit), HUDA Panipat, and the Panipat Exporters Association, along with senior industry leaders including Sh. Rajiv Aggarwal, Sh. Lalit Goel, H.S. Dhammu, Sh. Vineet Sharma, Sh. Veer Bhan Singla, and Sh. Purshottam Sharma.
In the opening session, Parul Soni, emphasized that Walmart Vriddhi’s free-of-cost training, mentorship, and market access opportunities are empowering MSMEs to unlock new avenues of growth and build a stronger domestic and global footprint.
Sh. Vikas Jangra, highlighted Panipat’s growing global manufacturing strength and urged MSMEs to leverage government support and programs like Walmart Vriddhi to scale and compete internationally.Dr. Pankaj, noted that as technology rapidly reshapes business and opens new eCommerce driven opportunities, programs like Walmart Vriddhi become vital in strengthening MSMEs and helping them build resilient enterprises, and contribute to a stronger entrepreneurial ecosystem.
The session also saw Walmart Vriddhi graduates share their experiences with fellow MSMEs who were in attendance. Walmart Vriddhi graduate, Sagar Kalra, the owner of Arch Fab who completed the learning program in 2021, reflected on the valuable mentorship received, especially in branding and marketing. Manu Gulati, Founder of Loops N Knots, a 2022 graduate of the program, described the learnings as a guiding force during the early, complex stages of her entrepreneurial journey.
Walmart Vriddhi’s mentor, Rajiv Bajaj touched upon the program’s success in enhancing MSME capabilities around cashflow management, team building, and operational excellence. He has mentored over 150 Walmart Vriddhi graduates through workshops, coaching, and one-on-one sessions, and continues to guide many more through workshops and personalized mentoring sessions today.
During the orientation session, Ravikant Suman, Head – Academy & Mentoring, i2i Foundation, briefed MSMEs on the program’s training modules, mentorship structure, and onboarding process. In the Cross Border Trade (CBT) session, Hemanth Bhamidipati from Walmart Marketplace, emphasized the importance of taking Indian MSMEs to global customers through Walmart.com. The event concluded with an interactive Q&A, where team members from Ideas to Impact Foundation addressed participants’ queries.
Key highlights from the event included the strengthened collaboration between Walmart Vriddhi, and government and local industry bodies, which enhanced mobilization thereby enhancing credibility and on-ground participation. The discussions also emphasized expansion of Walmart Vriddhi’s reach across Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities to tap into MSME clusters and to help MSMEs to onboard onto platforms such as Flipkart and Walmart Marketplace.
