Flipkart onboards arts, crafts & handlooms of Andhra & Odisha with warehousing support

July 18, 2020: Flipkart has signed two Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) with the governments of Odisha and Andhra Pradesh to onboard arts, crafts and handloom sectors of these states into its e-commerce platform with free cataloguing, marketing, account management, business insights and warehousing support.

The partnership under the Flipkart Samarth programme is with State Institute for Development of Arts & Crafts (SIDAC) in Odisha and Andhra Pradesh State Skill Development Corporation (APSSDC) in Andhra.

Flipkart will onboard renowned local Odia brands such as Boyanika, Utkalika and Sambalpuri Bastralaya - the enterprises that work with local artisans and weavers in the state to promote the best of Odisha’s local handicraft and handloom products, besides individual master artisans and weavers associated with the government.

Kailash Chandra Sahoo, additional secretary to handlooms, textiles & handicrafts department, Odisha said, “The partnership with Flipkart is the start of a new era in Odisha’s Handicrafts and Handloom sectors, led by Boyanika,Utkalika and Sambalpuri Bastralaya, among others. With the help of Flipkart, handloom and handicraft artisans living in remote areas of Odisha will now be able to better market their products to consumers across India. This partnership will also help the artisans gain valuable knowledge about branding, digital marketing and financial management while showcasing the local heritage and hallmark products.”

Arja Srikanth, IRTS, special secretary to government, and MD & CEO, Andhra Pradesh State Skill Development Corporation stated that this collaboration with Flipkart India will help all producers like artisans and FPO’s from the remotest places in Andhra Pradesh in seamless marketing of their products in relevant markets.

“In a year since its launch, Flipkart Samarth has been supporting more than 500,000 artisans, weavers and micro enterprises across India. Flipkart Samarth works with NGOs and government bodies and livelihood missions to reach a large number of rural entrepreneurs, with a special focus on women-led enterprises, differently-abled entrepreneurs, artisans, and weavers, who often face obstacles such as lack of
access to working capital, poor infrastructure, and inadequate training,” said the Flipkart release.