I. Core Partnership Details
- Partners: Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME), Government of India, and Amazon Seller Services Private Ltd.
- Purpose: To enhance online market access for artisans and craftspeople registered under the PM Vishwakarma Scheme.
- Location: MoU signed at Nirman Bhawan, New Delhi.
- Objective: To integrate traditional artisans into the digital economy, boost product visibility, and expand their customer base across India and globally.
II. Roles Under the MoU
| Partner | Key Responsibility |
| Amazon | Digital Onboarding: Facilitate the listing of eligible Vishwakarma artisans onto the Amazon marketplace. Market Linkages: Provide support through the existing ‘Karigar’ initiative, which promotes Indian handicrafts. E-commerce Support: Offer guidance and tools for online selling, product listing, packaging, and logistics. |
| MSME Ministry | Administrative Support: Assist artisans in obtaining necessary approvals, registrations, and clearances required for e-commerce and regulatory compliance. |
III. Context: PM Vishwakarma Scheme
- Launch Date: September 17, 2023.
- Target Group: Artisans and craftspeople engaged in traditional trades (e.g., carpentry, goldsmithing, pottery, tailoring, metalsmithing).
- Scheme Support: Provides holistic end-to-end support, including:
- Skill Training
- Modern Toolkits
- Credit Access
- Market Linkages (addressed by this Amazon MoU)
IV. Significance & Impact
- Empowerment: Helps traditional craftspeople move from local markets to national and global platforms, significantly boosting income opportunities.
- Digital Inclusion: Strengthens the digital presence and adoption of e-commerce tools among grassroots artisans.
- Promotional Focus: The collaboration strengthens the reach of handmade products under Amazon’s ‘Karigar’ program.
- National Vision: Aligns with the government’s goals of Viksit Bharat (Developed India) and Atmanirbhar Bharat (Self-Reliant India) by preserving traditional crafts while modernising their business models.