MSMEs cross USD 2 bn in exports: Amazon

The company, which had started GSP in 2015, allows Indian firms to export to other countries through 15 Amazon websites globally. The programme had started with a few hundred sellers and now has over 60,000 exporters. In January this year, Amazon had pledged to enable $10 billion in cumulative exports by 2025. Amit Agarwal, senior VP and country head Amazon India, said micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) are the backbone of the Indian economy and by digitising them, the company is contributing towards boosting exports and job creation that will empower inclusive economic growth of the country.

“The GSP helps take homegrown businesses global and provides an avenue for MSMEs to build global brands. The programme is witnessing momentous growth. It took three years for the programme to hit exports of $1 billion and now it has grown 100 per cent to hit the next $1 billion in less than 18 months,” he added. Agarwal said the programme has helped MSMEs sustain their exports business and in turn, supported hundreds of families amid the Covid-19 pandemic that has led to lockdowns and disruptions in supply chains globally.

Agarwal added Amazon remains committed to its pledge to digitise 10 million MSMEs, enable one million incremental jobs and drive $10 billion in e-commerce exports by 2020.

Nitin Gadkari, Union Road Transport and MSME minister, said MSME contributes about 30 pc of the growth of the country and about 48 pc of India’s exports.

The focus is to support the MSMEs and help them to increase their share of exports to 60 per cent, he added.