MSME Minister urges Walmart to take Khadi to international markets

By

Isabelle Crossley

Published
Oct 28, 2020

Minister for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises, Nitin Gadkari, urged U.S.-based retail business Walmart to engage with the Khadi sector and take Indian handloom products to international markets. 

On Tuesday, Gadkari and Walmart representatives spoke at a digital event to discuss the Indian MSME sector.

“Khadi gram udyog has very good products,”said Gadkari, the Press Trust of India reported.

“We are making khadi denim...the quality of products is good, of international standards... I will request if you can give opportunity to khadi gram udyog. I feel that will be a unique thing for Walmart also.”
 
Gadkari also shared that the Khadi industry is a large creator of employment in India and a significant contributor to the country's gross domestic product.

“Our target is to increase exports, and Indian MSMEs must become part of the global supply chain,” said Gadkari.
 
As part of its plan to foster links with and promote Indian industry, Walmart committed to opening 25 institute hubs across India over five years last year. The hubs will be designed to train 50,000 people in the MSME sector under the Walmart Vriddhi Supplier Development Programme.
 
Walmart shared that its first Vriddhi digital e-institute will first open to MSMEs in Panipat, Sonipat, and Kundli, areas known for textile production, as well as other manufacturing. The business also shared that it will add interactive online training experiences and personalised mentoring to its programme to support MSMEs.
 
Gadkari said that Walmart is contributing to taking Indian MSME-made products to the global market and encouraged the business to further engage with the handloom, handicrafts, and village industry sectors.