IIM Lucknow – Center for Public Policy, hosted an event at their campus in partnership with the Department of State Tax, Department of state planning, Government of Uttar Pradesh, and Flipkart to deliberate on the role of e-commerce in achieving the vision of USD 1 trillion economy for the state.
The discussions touched upon the e-commerce platforms’ impact on the state’s economy and how collaborative efforts between the state and the industry can maximize this potential.
As a part of the Industry, academia, and state government conversation, this joint event was aimed at discussing opportunities, policies, and activities that will enable inclusive growth for the MSMEs in Uttar Pradesh.
Key strategies and action items were discussed during the panel discussions, which could help support the entrepreneurial ecosystem, drive economic empowerment in the state and help progress toward Uttar Pradesh’s vision of becoming a trillion-dollar economy.
Speaking about the role of e-commerce in driving the growth of MSMEs and augmenting revenue, Shri. Pankaj Chaudhary, Hon’ble Minister of State for Finance, Government of India, said, “The government is committed to providing a supportive framework and a conducive ecosystem for MSMEs to thrive and adopt digital commerce. Local artisans, sellers, and handloom weavers have started seeing e-commerce as a growth enabler and are increasingly opting to do business online. Infrastructure investments in the state such as warehouses, logistics networks, and last mile delivery services, are further creating jobs.”
“There’s an increased allocation of budget to strengthen the state’s infrastructure to enable progress for MSMEs and help them create further livelihood opportunities through their businesses. Through e-commerce platforms MSMEs now have access to a vast customer base, leading to increased sales and revenue. We are keen to see more MSMEs join the digital commerce opportunity and expedite their growth”, Pankaj Chaudhary added.
Platforms like Flipkart are democratizing technology by lowering the cost of conducting online business, simplifying onboarding, and supporting financial management for MSMEs to drive their businesses online seamlessly. This is helping contribute to the state’s economy and bolstering its aim of becoming a USD 1 trillion economy.
Flipkart’s key investments in UP include establishing 8 fulfillment centers and mother hubs, over 21,000 kiranas partnering as delivery partners, and around 80,000 sellers from the state on its platform.
Flipkart is deeply invested in creating economic opportunities and market access for farmers with technology. Besides this, there are several MoUs with the State Government and government-supported entities – including the District Administration of Varanasi and the Uttar Pradesh Khadi & Village Industries Board (UPKVIB) – all of which have helped in creating around 2,40,000 job opportunities so far.
