Event Overview
Walmart Vriddhi MSME Connect Kolkata held on September 2, 2026, at Dhono Dhanyo Auditorium, brought together entrepreneurs, government representatives, industry leaders and ecosystem partners to explore new opportunities for MSME growth, digital commerce and market access in West Bengal.
MSMEs participated in a day of learning and engagement focused on strengthening business capabilities, building digital readiness and exploring opportunities to access wider domestic and international markets. The Walmart Vriddhi MSME Connect Kolkata 2026 brought together perspectives from government, industry, marketplaces and entrepreneurs, with a focus on practical pathways for businesses to grow and scale.
The event featured Shri U Swaroop, IAS, Director, Directorate of MSME, as the Chief Guest. The event also welcomed Shri Vinayak Azaad, Principal Commissioner of Customs (Preventive), West Bengal; Shri Vishnu Kant, Joint DGFT, Directorate General of Foreign Trade, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India; Shri Avishek Auddy, Chairman, Bengal Business Council; and Shri Anup Kumar Barla, Manager, Kolkata Regional Office, Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) as distinguished guests.
Key Speakers and Sessions
The session opened with Parul Soni, President, Ideas to Impact Foundation, who set the context for the day and highlighted the importance of equipping entrepreneurs with the knowledge, capabilities and connections needed to pursue new growth opportunities.
Amara Deepa, Director, Walmart Sourcing, shared Walmart Vriddhi’s vision for MSME growth, highlighting the role of capability building, digital commerce and market access in helping entrepreneurs strengthen and grow their businesses.
Shri U Swaroop, IAS, Director, Directorate of MSME, delivered the Chief Guest address, highlighting the vital role of MSMEs in West Bengal’s economy and encouraging entrepreneurs to embrace innovation, digital commerce and new markets to scale their businesses. He urged MSMEs to leverage Walmart Vriddhi’s free-of-cost training and support to strengthen their capabilities and expand their enterprises.
Shri Vishnu Kant, Joint DGFT, Directorate General of Foreign Trade, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India delivered a special address highlighting the need to strengthen MSME exporters’ access to finance, logistics, testing and certification support, while reducing the costs and barriers to entering global markets. He encouraged entrepreneurs to leverage the growing opportunities in eCommerce and digital trade, and make greater use of Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and schemes under the Export Promotion Mission to expand their global reach and achieve new heights.
Shri Vinayak Azaad, Principal Commissioner of Customs (Preventive), West Bengal, emphasised the role of technology and simplified customs processes in reducing time and costs for MSME exporters. He encouraged businesses to adopt transparent, compliant and digital supply chains to unlock greater opportunities in international markets.
A session by Suman Saha, Director, Cross-Border Trade, Walmart Marketplace explored opportunities for MSMEs to expand through digital and cross-border commerce, highlighting Walmart Marketplace’s fulfilment, advertising, onboarding and seller support solutions that can help businesses reach international customers.
Shri Anup Kumar Barla, Manager, Kolkata Regional Office, SIDBI, shared information on the support available to MSMEs through SIDBI. He highlighted SIDBI’s role in supporting MSMEs through access to finance, technology, skills and market linkages. He emphasised that timely financial support, alongside digital and capacity-building initiatives, is essential to help MSMEs scale, modernise and expand into national and global markets.
Shri Avishek Auddy, Chairman, Bengal Business Council, underscored the importance of embracing digital transformation and adapting to new business systems. He reinforced the need for businesses to evaluate the feasibility of new approaches while staying agile and keeping alternative solutions ready.
A separate experience-sharing session featuring Irshan Ahmed Siddiqui, Director, Marketplace Growth, Flipkart, and Madhur Bangur, Founder & CEO, Mars Infiniti, offered insights into building and growing a business through eCommerce. Madhur Bangur, a Flipkart seller, shared how Flipkart’s onboarding support, fulfilment services and category insights have helped him build and scale his kidswear business. He highlighted the platform’s ability to provide access to customers in smaller towns, enabling the brand to expand its reach beyond traditional markets.
Building Digital and Market Readiness
A key focus of the event was helping entrepreneurs understand practical pathways to accessing wider markets.
Sandeep Sanan, Executive Director, Cross Border Trade, Ideas to Impact Foundation, led an orientation on cross-border trade opportunities through Walmart Vriddhi, offering entrepreneurs insights into how digital commerce can help them reach customers in international markets.
For businesses looking to strengthen their presence on digital marketplaces, Swapnil Paroha, Director, Marketplace Ads, Flipkart, conducted an orientation on Flipkart onboarding, followed by a workshop and Q&A.
The event also featured a Walmart Vriddhi Supplier Academy masterclass, led by Ravikant Suman, Executive Director, Academy and Mentoring, Ideas to Impact Foundation, focused on strengthening business capabilities and helping entrepreneurs build greater readiness for sustainable growth.
Way Forward
The Kolkata edition of Walmart Vriddhi MSME Connect highlighted opportunities for West Bengal’s entrepreneurs to leverage digital commerce, strengthen capabilities and access wider markets. Digital platforms and global marketplaces are enabling MSMEs to reach international customers and explore cross-border trade.
Going forward, strengthening cross-border trade readiness will be key, including awareness of export processes, customs and compliance, logistics, testing and certification, international market requirements and access to finance. Continued collaboration across government, industry, marketplaces and financial institutions will help MSMEs build the capabilities needed to enter global value chains and scale their businesses. Walmart Vriddhi will continue to support entrepreneurs across West Bengal with relevant knowledge, capabilities and market opportunities.
Thank You
