MUMBAI: Amazon.in will work closely with the Nagaland government to enable women sellers in the state to embrace digital commerce through training, mentorship & skill development workshops.
In line with its vision to transform the way India sells, Amazon India today announced its partnership with the Government of Nagaland and National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) to empower and enable women entrepreneurs in the state by providing them with a global platform to sell their products at zero initial cost. Under the partnership, Amazon.in will conduct extensive training & skill development workshops to help women entrepreneurs in Nagaland understand nuances related to online selling and develop skills and capabilities necessary to nurture successful online enterprises. The programme also aims to encourage cottage industries in Nagaland by helping them grow through online commerce.
As part of the initiative, a one-stop center equipped with state-of-the-art infrastructure will be created to train & equip women entrepreneurs to open their own ‘E-shop’ on Amazon.in. With this, Amazon India aims to promote the flourishing cottage industries in the region and unlock unique selection of products such as hand-woven items, intricate metalwork, woodwork, stonework, pottery and basketry. Spinning and weaving have been very significant in the Naga Hills and in the recent times mill-made yarn is also fast gaining popularity from this region. The government has also been very active in promoting industries like soap-making, candle-making, bee-keeping, and the association with Amazon will definitely aid in this direction.
Starting today, the first workshop spanning over two days will be conducted in Kohima. The participants of the workshop will be endowed with essential skills required to help them start an online business. The training workshops will comprise of sessions on listing of products, imaging & cataloguing, packaging & shipping, inventory & account management and customer service to name a few. This will be a free workshop offering several exclusive benefits including assisted onboarding and mentorship programs.
Commenting on the partnership, Nagaland chief minister's principal secretary Temjin Toy said,“Today, digital commerce has dissolved geographical boundaries and enabled millions of Indians to consume products & services from all corners of the country leading to a massive economic transformation. We hope to drive this transformation in Nagaland by helping our women become e-entrepreneurs on Amazon. We look forward to extending all possible support to Amazon India in helping women artisans & entrepreneurs to participate in India’s vibrant digital economy.”
Expressing his sentiments on empowering women entrepreneurs through this programme, Amazon India director & GM - seller services Gopal Pillai said, “Our entrepreneurial culture and initiatives have always been aligned with our vision of transforming the way India buys and sells. Through this partnership, we look forward to fostering entrepreneurship and empowerment among women in Nagaland by giving them the opportunity to experience India’s digital economy firsthand. With specialised training, skill development workshops, technology support and market access at zero initial cost, the initiative will not only boost the cottage industry run by women in Nagaland, but also lead to the overall advancement of women e-entrepreneurs from the state.”
On taking this partnership to other states, Gopal added “We see this as an important milestone in our journey and look forward to extending our partnership with NSDC to other states in India.”
"The SMB sector in Nagaland is largely women dominated. We believe that with adequate training, skill development and e-commerce exposure, this industry can grow exponentially and lift the economic landscape of the region and its people, especially women entrepreneurs. With Amazon's training and development program and its massive digital reach, we are confident that the women sellers from the region can not only accelerate their business growth but can also get the required global platform to showcase their products. We look forward to providing all possible support to Amazon in their initiative,“ said NSDC head - Jammu, Kashmir and North East Region Dr. Sapna Poti.
With its flagship initiatives like Seller University that trains and nurture sellers, fulfilment and assisted shipping service via Fulfilment by Amazon (FBA), Seller Flex and Easy Ship, Amazon Tatkal that helps SMBs get online within 60 minutes and lending program to provide comprehensive financial solutions to sellers, Amazon.in has rolled out several such initiatives and has been working extensively to meet different business requirements of sellers and small entrepreneurs and help them grow their business profitably online.
The company’s Global Selling Program launched in India in May last year has over 18,000 sellers today selling their ‘Make in India’ products on Amazon’s 9 global marketplaces to millions of active worldwide customers. With the recently launched Prime service, Indian customers in over 100 cities can enjoy unlimited free one-day and two-day delivery on lakhs of eligible products from India’s largest online shopping selection.Customers on Amazon benefit from a safe and secure ordering experience, convenient electronic payments, Cash on Delivery, Amazon’s 24x7 customer service support, and a globally recognized and comprehensive 100% purchase protection provided by Amazon’s A-to-Z Guarantee.
