BNN
1. What is the broader vision behind Amazon India collaborating with three different Government institutions at once?
These collaborations reflect Amazon's commitment to contributing to India's long-term development priorities by engaging with institutions that influence different parts of the economic ecosystem - MSMEs, startups, and logistics. By working with MoMSME, DPIIT, and Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya, Amazon aims to create an integrated impact across livelihoods, entrepreneurship, and infrastructure, ensuring that digital inclusion and market access reach communities and businesses at various stages of growth.
2. How does the partnership under the PM Vishwakarma Scheme help artisans adapt to a digital-first economy?
The collaboration with MoMSME enables artisans who rely on traditional skills - carpenters, goldsmiths, potters, blacksmiths, sculptors - to onboard onto Amazon through the Karigar program. Beyond just marketplace access, the initiative helps artisans understand cataloging, branding, logistics, and customer engagement in a digital environment. This bridges generational craft with modern retail, giving artisans an opportunity to diversify income streams and participate more sustainably in the digital economy.
3. Why did Amazon choose to collaborate specifically with Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya, and what outcomes are you expecting?
GSV is India's only university dedicated to transportation and logistics, making it a natural partner to deepen research and sector capability. Through this MoU, Amazon will jointly work on multimodal transport design, freight corridor efficiency, and sustainability-led solutions. The dedicated research chair and upcoming report on warehousing will help generate insights that support evidence-based policymaking, infrastructure design, and talent development - areas that are critical to India's supply chain resilience.
4. In what ways will the collaboration help shape the future of India's logistics ecosystem?
The logistics sector is evolving rapidly, and this partnership allows academic expertise and industry experience to come together. Through co-created research, Amazon and GSV will explore ways to optimise logistics networks, integrate technology into multimodal transport, and identify opportunities to make India's freight movement more efficient. These insights can contribute to better planning, more robust warehousing frameworks, and a pipeline of skilled professionals entering the sector.
5. The partnership with DPIIT expands support for women entrepreneurs and startups. What gaps does this initiative address?
Women-led businesses and early-stage startups often face hurdles in scaling - limited mentorship, lack of market exposure, and gaps in digital readiness. By expanding the Saheli Accelerate program to 50 businesses and prioritising launch support for direct-to-customer startups, Amazon aims to reduce these barriers. The sharper focus on Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities ensures the benefits are not confined to metros, enabling entrepreneurs in smaller regions to access resources that can significantly improve their growth trajectory.
6. How do these combined partnerships reflect India's economic priorities today?
India's economic agenda is centred around strengthening MSMEs, driving innovation-led entrepreneurship, and creating modern, efficient logistics networks. These partnerships support each of those pillars. Enabling artisans preserves cultural craftsmanship while improving incomes; empowering women-led startups fuels innovation; and strengthening logistics research supports the backbone of commerce. Together, these initiatives contribute to a more inclusive, future-ready economy aligned with the vision of a Viksit Bharat.
7. What does this indicate about Amazon India's role and long-term commitment in the country's development journey?
These collaborations showcase Amazon's intent to move beyond transactional engagement and contribute meaningfully to capability-building across sectors. By supporting artisans, mentoring entrepreneurs, and investing in logistics research, Amazon is aligning its long-term presence in India with national priorities. The goal is to expand access, empower communities, and help create a robust digital ecosystem that benefits millions of consumers and sellers alike.