Walmart has announced its first Growth Summit in India, opening the application process on November 9. The summit aims to partner with export-ready suppliers, micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), cross-border trade suppliers, and innovative supply chain companies to accelerate progress towards Walmart’s commitment to triple its exports of goods from India. The event, scheduled for February 14-15, 2024, in New Delhi, will bring together Indian companies and Walmart buyers to evaluate products for export. The goal is to partner with the “Make in India” initiative and increase exports in various categories, including food, consumables, health and wellness, general merchandise, apparel, shoes, home textiles, and toys.
The event will support India’s ambition to strengthen its supply chain and participate in global markets. Walmart has a longstanding commitment to India, exporting products across various categories since the 1990s. The company continues to grow and train MSMEs through programs like Walmart Vriddhi, launched in 2019 in partnership with Flipkart. The initiative aims to empower 50,000 entrepreneurs to participate in domestic and global supply chains. The Growth Summit is expected to further boost exports and market access for Indian MSMEs.
Andrea Albright, Executive Vice President, Sourcing at Walmart, expressed the company’s enthusiasm for the event, which aligns with Walmart’s commitment to expand exports with existing suppliers and develop relationships with new ones. “A purchase order from Walmart can have ripple effects in communities, often enabling suppliers to create new jobs and expand local manufacturing,” Albright said.
Amitesh Jha, Senior Vice President – Category and Marketplace at the Flipkart Group, highlighted the initiative’s focus on boosting exports from India and driving market access for MSMEs. The Growth Summit aims to provide Indian businesses with opportunities in international markets, supporting the growth and prosperity of the Indian MSME ecosystem.
Suppliers and supply chain experts can register for the Walmart Growth Summit from November 9 to December 11, 2023.
