Amazon to invest USD 1 billion to digitise MSMEs
New Delhi/UNI: Amazon on Wednesday announced its plans to invest USD 1 billion to digitally enable micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and traders across India, including manufacturers, resellers, local offline shops, and brands, said company's founder and CEO Jeff Bezos here.
The company aims to digitise 10 million MSMEs with this investment, helping Indian businesses grow by selling online worldwide and enabling USD 10B in cumulative exports by 2025.
As part of this effort, Amazon will establish 100 Digital Haats in cities and villages throughout India.
Bezos announced the plan in front of thousands of MSMEs at the inaugural Amazon SMBhav Summit.
“We’re committed to being a long-term partner of India. And actions speak louder than words,” said Bezos.
“Over the next five years, Amazon will invest an incremental US$1 billion to digitize micro and small businesses in cities, towns, and villages across India, helping them reach more customers than ever before. This initiative will use Amazon’s global footprint to create US$10 billion in India exports by 2025. Our hope is that this investment will bring millions more people into the future prosperity of India and at the same time expose the world to the ‘Make in India’ products that represent India’s rich, diverse culture,” he said.
Today, there are more than 550,000 sellers on the Amazon India marketplace and more than 60,000 Indian manufacturers and brands are exporting their “Make in India” products to customers worldwide on Amazon.
With today’s announcement, Amazon will help Indian MSMEs grow their cumulative exports to US$10 billion by 2025 through the Amazon Global Selling programme, which enables businesses to sell on Amazon marketplaces globally.
Amazon will establish Digital Haats in 100 cities, villages, and communities to help businesses integrate into the digital economy.
The Digital Haats will provide services like e-commerce onboarding, imaging and cataloging, warehouse space, logistics, digital marketing, and compliance.
Digital Haats will be in local neighbourhoods and available to MSMEs irrespective of their association with Amazon.
To support local neighbourhood shops and kiranas, Amazon will be expanding the Amazon Easy and “I Have Space” programmes to provide additional income opportunities. Through Amazon Easy, kirana shops will be able to set up kiosks to provide assistance to their customers in choosing the right product, placing an order on Amazon and earning commission on the sales. Through “I Have Space”, local stores can expand their income by using their shops as a mini delivery center and delivering products ordered on Amazon in their neighbourhood.
Bezos detailed Amazon’s Digitize India pledge in the first-ever Amazon SMBhav Summit, a two-day event hosting more than 3,000 businesses, traders, startups, and technology solution companies.
During the Summit, Bezos presented three Small Business Awards to local Indian businesses for Digital SMB of the year, Woman Entrepreneur of the Year, and Global SMB of the Year.
In addition to Bezos, speakers included Narayana Murthy, Co-Founder – Infosys; Kishore Biyani, Founder & CEO – Future Group and other industry leaders from across the spectrum of digital businesses.
Image: Wikimedia Commons
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