Kolkata, Feb 06 (UNI) Amazon India on Thursday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with ARGA, an initiative of the Government of Uttar Pradesh, to enable women entrepreneurs in and around Gonda district to leverage ecommerce and build their business.

The collaboration was formalized at a special event celebrating World Wetlands Day at the Parvati Arga Bird Sanctuary.

As part of the MoU, Amazon will support women-led businesses associated with Brand ARGA through its Saheli program, according to a media statement here on Thursday.

This includes providing training in digital and performance marketing, product listing optimization, and advertising methods. Women entrepreneurs from the region will also gain access to data-driven insights and metrics to better understand customer expectations and market opportunities.

The collaboration will also enable Brand ARGA to list its diverse range of products, including pickles, jams, flour, namkeen, gram flour, noodles, and more, on Amazon.in.



On this occasion, Yogi Adityanath, Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, said, "At Parvati Arga, we are empowering local women through Self-Help Groups (SHGs). With Amazon’s support, these SHGs will now have the opportunity to sell their products online. While our products have always been of high quality, we have now addressed packaging challenges, and with organizations like Amazon onboard, marketing hurdles are also being overcome. Initiatives like these play a crucial role in advancing the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat and reinforcing the 'Vocal for Local' movement."



Sharing his views on this occasion, Kirti Vardhan Singh, Hon’ble Minister of State for Environment, Forest & Climate Change and Minister of State for External Affairs, said, “We appreciate Amazon India’s initiative to promote Brand ARGA, a pioneering initiative which is revolutionizing the local businesses by women entrepreneurs of Gonda district. With this MoU, the women of Gonda will be able to sell their products all across the country. Let us all work together to help local artisans and entrepreneurs reach new heights.”



Gaurav Bhatnagar, Director-Sales, at Amazon India, said, "Our collaboration with ARGA reflects Amazon's commitment to working together with government initiatives to empower women entrepreneurs. By combining the reach of e-commerce with the rich diversity of local products from Gonda district, we can create growth opportunities for women entrepreneurs in the region. Our Saheli program will provide them with the digital tools and knowledge they need to thrive in today's market. We strongly believe this partnership can contribute meaningfully to inclusive growth and support the vision of a Viksit Bharat."



Brand ARGA, addresses a crucial issue faced by local businesses – the lack of proper branding and packaging for their diverse range of products, including pickles, jams, namkeen, gram flour, noodles, and more. It enables SMBs to market their products under the brand name 'ARGA' in the local/international markets. In the first phase, more than 55 products, including food products, manufactured by the SMBs of Gonda district, have been given a new identity under ARGA.

Amazon Saheli program was launched in 2017, with the aim to enhance the awareness and accessibility of locally made products from women entrepreneurs and local women owned businesses in India. As part of this initiative, Amazon works with partners to drive digitization and provide requisite tools to woman entrepreneurs, which enables them to become successful in their digital endeavors.

Today, Amazon Saheli has 60+ partners with a reach of 16 lakh+ women entrepreneurs from urban and rural sectors, along with 1.8 lakh+ women made products products across ten categories like apparel, jewelry, groceries, etc. More than 80,000+ women artisans are involved in this partnership and benefit from it. The artisans produce and sell these products to support their livelihoods.



Amazon India has provided numerous opportunities for women across its ecosystem, including Seller Partners, Operations Network Partners, Community Beneficiaries, Employees, and Associates, all of whom play crucial roles in positively impacting Amazon's diverse customer base throughout the country. It has introduced various benefits, programs, and initiatives to empower women, within and outside its organization.



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