Odisha Govt. Signs MoU with Flipkart to Promote Homegrown Handloom, Handicrafts

Bhubaneswar: The Department of Handlooms Textiles and Handicrafts, Government of Odisha taken a measure in the development of the handloom, art & crafts by signing a Memorandum of Understanding with India’s indigenous e-commerce marketplace.

The State Institute for Development of Arts & Crafts (SIDAC) under the ‘Flipkart Samarth Programme’ will empower local artisans, weavers, and craftsmen of Odisha by giving them a platform to showcase their products to the millions by accessing them national market.

The partnership of SIDAC & Flipkart will especially focus to raise trade and commerce of this under-resourced section of the society; consequently, it will induce Self-Dependent India.

As a part of MoU, Flipkart will work with the popular brands of Odisha such as Boyonika, Utkalika, and Sambalpuri Bastralaya. These companies are working with local artisans and weavers and help to promote homegrown products.

Responding to the MoU, Sri Kailash Chandra Sahoo, Additional Secretary to Handlooms, Textiles & Handicrafts Department, Govt. of Odisha stated, “The partnership with Flipkart is the new beginning of Odisha’s Handicrafts and Handloom sectors, managed by Boyanika, Utkalika, Sambalpuri Bastralaya, and others. With the help of Flipkart, handloom and handicraft artisans living in remote places 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.”

“We are delighted to join hands with the Govt. of Odisha to bring the state’s heritage on our platform while providing the state’s artisans and weavers a chance to fulfill their ambitions and expand their businesses pan-India. These are challenging times, and as a home-grown platform, we believe it is our responsibility to boost local businesses and transform them through ecosystem partnerships. This MoU will bring the benefits of ‘Flipkart Samarth’ to the thousands of handloom artisans, weavers, and craftsmen in the state,” said Rajneesh Kumar, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, Flipkart Group.

Flipkart Samarth has supported the livelihood of more than 500,000 artisans, weavers, and small enterprises all over India. Flipkart works closely with eminent NGOs, Government bodies, and livelihood missions to reach a large number of rural entrepreneurs, emphasizing mainly on women-led enterprises, differently-abled entrepreneurs, artisans, and weavers, who often face obstacles due to lack of access to working capital, poor infrastructure, and inadequate training.