Shillong: Meghalaya Department of Commerce and Industries on Saturday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Amazon to promote local businesses and expand market opportunities.
This landmark agreement marks the first formal partnership between the state government and the e-commerce giant.
More than 100 small and medium-scale business owners from across the state attended a capacity-building session immediately after the MoU signing at the Directorate of Commerce and Industries.
During the event, the Amazon team showcased its Karigar and Saheli initiatives, which are designed to help local artisans, traditional weavers, and women entrepreneurs showcase their products to a wider audience through the e-commerce platform.
Department officials encouraged MSMEs to register on Amazon to increase product visibility and reach national and international customers. They also assured dedicated support to artisans to ensure smooth onboarding and sustained engagement with the e-commerce platform.
F Sutnga, Director of Commerce and Industries, said the partnership is expected to provide long-term benefits to local entrepreneurs and significantly improve market access for MSMEs, particularly those specializing in handloom, handicrafts, and indigenous products.
The MoU is part of the Raising and Accelerating MSME Performance (RAMP) scheme under the Ministry of MSME. As per the agreement, the Meghalaya Handloom and Handicrafts Development Corporation, a public sector enterprise under the Department of Commerce and Industries, will manage Amazon operations, including product listings, cataloguing, and pricing.
Officials said the collaboration will integrate Meghalaya’s artisans and small businesses into the digital economy, helping them scale operations and reach wider markets.
Amazon representative Sarita Tiwari, Joint Director of Commerce and Industries ML Wanshnong, Managing Director of Meghalaya Handloom and Handicrafts Development Corporation Daphiralin Kharjana, members of the RAMP State Project Implementation Unit, and other senior officials attended the event.