CIOInsider India Magazine

Amazon will now be a part of the Indian government's e-commerce project, which aims to democratize online shopping in South Asia while amusingly undermining corporations, including the American retail groups' hegemony. The program was introduced in India in 2015 to help Indian exporters connect with clients worldwide via Amazon's international websites and marketplaces. It gives companies of all sizes a way to create worldwide brands. More than one lakh exporters from all over India are currently participating in the program, displaying millions of Made in India items to clients in more than 200 countries and territories. First-generation entrepreneurs and developing brands run many of these enterprises. Amazon Global Selling has had impressive development, and Indian MSMEs using the program to export have now generated more than $5 billion in total sales. By 2025, Amazon has promised to support $20 billion in exports from India.

Boosting India’s Economy
With the aim of expanding India's creative economy, Amazon India and the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB), Government of India, have signed a Letter of Engagement (LoE). Amazon and MIB will work together to develop capacity among film and television institutions, promote Made in India creative content globally, and help open doors for promoting creative talent in India. Hon'ble Shri Anurag Singh Thakur, Union Minister for Information & Broadcasting and Youth Affairs & Sports, Government of India, Chetan Krishnaswamy, Vice President Public Policy at Amazon India, and Gaurav Gandhi, Vice President, Asia Pacific, Prime Video, all witnessed the signing of the LoE at The National Media Centre in New Delhi.

By presenting their profiles and skill sets on the platform for the ranking, National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) and IMD will collaborate as part of the LoE to make India's creative talent more discoverable. Both Prime Video and miniTV will strive to offer internships and scholarships to students at the Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute (SRFTII) and the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII). This will let students experience actual jobs and prepare them for the workplace. In addition, renowned content from NFDC, Doordarshan, and the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) will be featured on Prime Video and miniTV to mark the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav Celebrations. By reaching the majority of Indians, these platforms will increase India's soft power and cultural influence. Additionally, skill-based masterclasses will be held for the students of various film and television institutes, and 75 Creative Minds of Tomorrow, an annual talent enrichment program run by IFFI, will be selected. This program will teach 75 young, talented artists who MIB has shortlisted.

Yoga Store to Celebrate International Day of Yoga
The opening of the Yoga store on Amazon.in, which offers an unprecedented assortment of Yoga needs from Indian merchants, was announced by Amazon India as a way to honor and support the Government of India's initiative to promote a Healthy and Fit India. The store, which was officially opened by Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, Minister of AYUSH and Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways for the Government of India, offers customers the chance to adopt a healthier lifestyle. It also aims to foster the development of up-and-coming Indian brands and producers in the health and fitness sector.

Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, Hon’ble Minister of AYUSH and Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Government of India, says, “Yoga is an ancient practice that promotes holistic well-being and aims to improve the overall quality of life. I am pleased to be a part of the launch and would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to Amazon India on the successful launch of the ‘Yoga storefront’ in alignment with honorable Prime Minister Narendra Modi Ji’s vision of ‘Healthy and Fit India.’ This is yet another significant contribution from Amazon India towards transforming and shaping the world of Indian e-commerce and entrepreneurship.”

WBIDC, Amazon & FICCI to Promote E-commerce Exports from West Bengal
The West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation (WBIDC), Amazon Global Selling, and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI) collaborated to organize an event at Silpa Sadan in Kolkata to help small businesses and entrepreneurs from West Bengal expand their businesses globally through e-commerce exports. This event was designed as a venue for information exchange, training, and capacity building to help small firms from the state build solid exporting businesses and international brands. The West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation (WBIDC), Amazon Global Selling, and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI) collaborated to organize an e-Export Haat at Silpa Sadan in Kolkata to help small businesses and entrepreneurs from West Bengal expand their businesses globally through e-commerce exports. This event was designed as a venue for information exchange, training, and capacity building to help small firms from the state build solid exporting businesses and international brands.

Bhupen Wakankar, Director, Global Trade—Amazon India, says, “We are seeing rising interest in e-commerce exports from MSMEs and startups across India, including West Bengal. Over 3,000 exporters from the state have already worked with us, and we are seeing a lot of momentum across categories like Furniture, Home, Luggage, Leather goods, and more. We are delighted to join hands with WBIDC and FICCI to open up the e-commerce export opportunity for an even larger number of exporters from the state. We are encouraged by the enabling provisions on e-commerce exports in the FTP 2023. We will continue working with all stakeholders as we move closer to our vision of enabling $20 billion in cumulative exports from India by 2025.”

Local Businesses Get Digitized in Uttar Pradesh
Amazon will collaborate with the Uttar Pradesh government to train and onboard business owners in Amazon Global Selling, giving them the opportunity to market their distinctive Made in India items to millions of Amazon customers in more than 200 different nations and territories. Amazon Global Selling makes it easier for Indian MSMEs to grow internationally from any location in India and take advantage of Amazon's distribution resources. A lakh Indian exporters have now exceeded $5 billion in total exports thanks to this program. Through e-commerce exports, thousands of these companies have been able to establish worldwide renowned brands from India. On its Karigar platform, Amazon will teach and onboard craftspeople, weavers, and MSME merchants who have registered under the ODOP program. The program was introduced in 2016 to enhance the Indian handicraft and handloom industries by assisting artists and weavers with digitization, skill development, and market connections. Up to this point, Amazon Karigar has made 450+ distinctive art and craft forms available from over 28 states and union territories. Over 13 lakh weavers and craftsmen across India have benefited from the collaboration of over 30 state government emporiums, seven government entities, and Amazon to reach clients nationwide.