INDORE, Madhya Pradesh, July 7, 2026 — Walmart Vriddhi, in partnership with Ideas to Impact Foundation (i2i), hosted Walmart Vriddhi MSME Connect 2026 in Indore, Madhya Pradesh in collaboration with the Department of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Government of Madhya Pradesh.
The connect brought together industry stakeholders, MSME entrepreneurs, and ecosystem partners to discuss opportunities to strengthen the state’s MSME sector, accelerate digital adoption and help small businesses access new growth opportunities through the Walmart Vriddhi Supplier Development Program.
The event registered a footfall of 600+ MSMEs with the support of key state government departments including Startup MP, Department of MSMEs, Govt. of Madhya Pradesh; Madhya Pradesh Laghu Udyog Nigam (MP LUN); Madhya Pradesh Industrial Development Corporation (MPIDC); Department of Horticulture and Food Processing, Govt. of Madhya Pradesh; Madhya Pradesh State Rural Livelihoods Mission (MP-SRLM); TRIFED Bhopal and regional industry associations including Association of Industries Madhya Pradesh (AIMP), FICCI FLO Indore; and the Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) among others.
Walmart Vriddhi continues to empower MSMEs in Madhya Pradesh through free-of-cost-training, market access and tools to help build resilient, digitally enabled businesses. The program also delivers specialized workshops and seminars designed to strengthen core business capabilities and support long-term business readiness. The MSME Connect 2026 builds on Walmart Vriddhi’s ongoing collaboration with the Government of Madhya Pradesh, following the Memorandum of Understanding signed in July 2025 to support the growth of the state’s MSME ecosystem.
“A vibrant MSME sector will be instrumental in realizing our Hon’ble Chief Minister’s ‘Viksit Madhya Pradesh’ vision. Through the Samriddh Scheme, which aims to establish 1 crore MSMEs in the state by 2047, we are enabling entrepreneurs to expand their businesses, enhance competitiveness, and create greater employment opportunities across the state. Partnerships such as Walmart Vriddhi complement these efforts by equipping MSMEs with the skills and market linkages needed to grow,” said Hon’ble Minister for MSME, Government of Madhya Pradesh, Shri Chetanya Kasyap.
“Madhya Pradesh is home to a dynamic MSME ecosystem that plays a vital role in driving economic growth, innovation and employment. Through our ongoing collaboration with the Government of Madhya Pradesh, Walmart Vriddhi is helping entrepreneurs strengthen business capabilities, embrace digital transformation and access new market opportunities. We are encouraged by the momentum we see across the state and remain committed to empowering MSMEs with the skills, mentorship and market access needed to unlock long-term growth,” said Avaneesh Gupta, Senior Vice President, General Merchandising & Fashion Sourcing, Walmart.
Walmart Vriddhi continues to engage with MSMEs across Madhya Pradesh’s diverse industry clusters, including handicrafts, textiles, food processing, engineering goods and handloom. The program is also deepening its presence across key MSME hubs in the state, including Indore, Bhopal, Gwalior, Jabalpur, Ujjain and Dewas.
The impact of the program is reflected in the business growth journeys of entrepreneurs across Madhya Pradesh. Anand Kashyap, Founder of Organic Anand, leveraged learnings from the program to strengthen his business and grow monthly revenues from ₹30,000 to over ₹10 lakh within three years. Similarly, Naina Chaurasiya, Founder of Shri Shriji, Indore, applied insights gained through Walmart Vriddhi to scale her operations and achieve 70% business growth within two years.
To meet entrepreneurs where they are and where they aspire to be, Walmart Vriddhi combines digital skilling, marketplace enablement, personalized mentorship, and on-ground support to help MSMEs build stronger and more sustainable businesses. Through training in key areas such as finance, marketing, workforce management, and environmental sustainability, the program equips entrepreneurs with the capabilities needed to grow and compete in an evolving marketplace.
Since its launch in 2019, Walmart Vriddhi has trained over 115,000 MSMEs across India. With a goal of supporting a total of 170,000 MSMEs by 2028, the program continues to strengthen entrepreneurial capabilities and help businesses expand into domestic and international markets.
MSMEs can register for Walmart Vriddhi here: https://www.walmartvriddhi.org/register-with-walmartvriddhi. Sellers looking to expand internationally through Walmart Marketplace can register here: https://www.walmartvriddhi.org/register-with-walmart-marketplace https://www.walmartvriddhi.org/en/marketplace
Walmart Inc. (Nasdaq: WMT) is a people-led, tech-powered omnichannel retailer helping people save money and live better – anytime and anywhere – in stores, online, and through their mobile devices. Each week, approximately 280 million customers and members visit more than 10,900 stores and numerous eCommerce websites in 19 countries. With fiscal year 2026 revenue of $713 billion, Walmart employs approximately 2.1 million associates worldwide. Walmart continues to be a leader in sustainability, corporate philanthropy, and employment opportunity. Additional information about Walmart can be found by visiting corporate.walmart.com, on Facebook at facebook.com/walmart, on X (formerly known as Twitter) at twitter.com/walmart, and on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/company/walmart.
Ideas to Impact (i2i) Foundation, implementation partner of Walmart Vriddhi, is a nonprofit committed to driving sustainable human development through innovative, community-focused solutions. i2i partners with governments, civil society, and corporates to create scalable programs that empower marginalized communities and support the Sustainable Development Goals. The Foundation’s work spans education, health, environment, and gender inclusion, focusing on building resilient, inclusive societies. Rooted in collaboration and transparency, i2i Foundation strives to create a lasting positive impact for a better future. Additional information about Ideas to Impact Foundation can be found by visiting:i2ifoundation.org/about-i2i-foundation
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Walmart Vriddhi hosted MSME Connect 2026 at the Brilliant Convention Centre in Indore, bringing together MSMEs, senior government representatives, industry associations, and ecosystem partners to explore digital commerce and business growth opportunities. Organized in collaboration with the Department of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME), Government of Madhya Pradesh, the event witnessed a turnout of 600+ MSMEs.
The event received support from key state government departments including Startup MP, Department of MSMEs, Government of Madhya Pradesh; Madhya Pradesh Laghu Udyog Nigam (MP LUN); Madhya Pradesh Industrial Development Corporation (MPIDC); Department of Horticulture and Food Processing, Government of Madhya Pradesh; Madhya Pradesh State Rural Livelihoods Mission (MP-SRLM); TRIFED Bhopal and regional industry associations including Association of Industries Madhya Pradesh (AIMP), FICCI FLO Indore; and Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) among others. Shri Shankar Lalwani, Hon’ble Member of Parliament, Indore Lok Sabha graced the occasion as the Chief Guest.
The event commenced with opening remarks by Parul Soni, President, Ideas to Impact Foundation, who highlighted how Walmart Vriddhi in enabling MSMEs through digital tools, personalized mentorship, and market access.
Shri Shankar Lalwani, Hon’ble Member of Parliament, Indore Lok Sabha, spoke about the transformative impact of Digital India on the MSME sector, describing MSMEs as the key driver of employment generation and inclusive economic growth. He underscored the importance of strengthening the capabilities of local enterprises to help them scale sustainably and contribute to India’s broader economic development.
Yashwant Narayan Kulkarni, General Manager and Regional In-Charge, SIDBI, highlighted SIDBI’s role in supporting MSMEs through access to finance, including term loans for machinery and business expansion, working capital assistance, and specialized financial support for agriculture, food processing, green enterprises, and emerging manufacturing sectors.
Arun Karmakar, Global Sourcing, Walmart introduced the Walmart Vriddhi Supplier Development Program and reiterated Walmart’s commitment to strengthening India’s MSME ecosystem through digital commerce, strategic partnerships, and capacity building.
The event also featured an experience-sharing session by Walmart Vriddhi graduates Anand Kashyap, Founder, Organic Anand, and Naina Chaurasiya, Founder, Shri Radha Madhav Enterprise. They reflected on how the program helped strengthen different aspects of their businesses, from adopting sustainable packaging practices and improving product quality to expanding into digital commerce and reaching new customer segments.
The orientation sessions focused on introducing participating MSMEs to Walmart Vriddhi’s business learning ecosystem, digital commerce, and pathways to market access through Flipkart and Walmart Marketplaces.
Participants were guided through marketplace onboarding, seller readiness, and business growth opportunities while gaining practical insights into building stronger digital capabilities. The sessions concluded with an interactive Q&A, where Walmart and Flipkart representatives addressed participant queries and shared guidance on navigating the digital commerce ecosystem.
Discussions at the event reinforced the importance of continued collaboration between government departments, financial institutions, industry associations in strengthening MSME growth. Continued localized engagement and ecosystem partnerships will play a key role in enabling more MSMEs to improve market readiness and achieve growth through Walmart Vriddhi.
