Amazon India is launching a female-focused storefront on its existing online platform, in a bid to highlight some 80,000 unique products sold by over 450 women-led small
businesses in India.
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The U.S.-based e-commerce major, in partnership with UN Women to support women-led businesses, said it will also make an US$0.34 contribution for every transaction made on the new storefront, with proceeds going to ‘Nanhi Kali’, an NGO that sponsors the education of underprivileged girls.
“It is no secret that the economic disruption caused by the pandemic has hit women-dominated sectors and small businesses the hardest, leaving women vulnerable to the loss of livelihoods…entrepreneurship amongst women can play a pivotal role in creating stronger economic outcomes for society,” Amazon India Senior VP and Country Head Amit Agarwal said during a virtual event.
“At Amazon, we remain committed to support the success of women-led small and medium businesses…Technology and e-commerce have emerged as equalisers that can provide women a level-playing field, enabling them to build scalable businesses and create positive impact in society,” he added.
In addition to the storefront, Amazon India also runs several programs, including Saheli and Launchpad, that aim to accelerate representation of women in businesses and promote entrepreneurship.
Female sellers and business leaders are on the rise in India, thanks to consistent investments from national and state governments, private sector, financial organisations and educational institutions. In an interview with Smriti Zubib Irani, Minister of Women and Child Development, the Times reported that more efforts are being made by the government under various programs towards skilling and promoting women-led businesses.
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“We have the privilege of serving over 70 million female entrepreneurs in our country,” said Irani, adding that over Rs 309 billion especially in the pandemic was transferred to the bank account of 226 million Indian women, “so that they can have access to credit or for that matter, access to ready cash, thereby strengthening their purchasing power, especially in the time of the pandemic.”