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 , 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.
About Walmart
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
About Ideas to Impact Foundation
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.
