On the occasion of World MSME Day, which falls on June 27th, technology company Meta has announced a new partnership with the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT). The goal of this partnership is to provide training to 1 million traders using the WhatsApp Business App over the next three years. As part of its commitment to upskill 10 million small businesses in 2021, Meta has also launched the Meta Small Business Academy.
The certification offered by the Meta Small Business Academy will equip new entrepreneurs and marketers with digital marketing skills to grow their businesses on Meta apps. To ensure that the program reaches micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) across India, the course and examination materials are available in seven languages, including English, Hindi, Marathi, Bengali, Kannada, Tamil, and Telugu.
Sandhya Devanathan, the Vice President of Meta in India, expressed the company’s dedication to fostering skill development for MSMEs. The partnership with CAIT will empower traders throughout India to utilize the WhatsApp Business app in connecting with customers and driving their business growth.
Praveen Khandelwal, the National Secretary General of CAIT, emphasized that technology, the internet, networking, logistics, and communication are crucial for India’s trading community. With many businesses of different sizes using WhatsApp as an effective communication and coordination tool, it’s essential to provide them with the necessary skills for business growth. Through the “WhatsApp Se Vyapaar” campaign, CAIT aims to digitally empower 1 million traders with training on using the WhatsApp Business App, collaborating with Meta. The initiative is anticipated to unlock new growth opportunities for traders across India, with CAIT looking forward to further partnering with Meta to expand the business and digital skilling agenda to meet the evolving needs of the trading community.
The partnership between CAIT and Meta will involve numerous trade associations associated with CAIT across the country.
Dr. Sangita Reddy, Chair of G20 EMPOWER, Joint Managing Director of Apollo Hospitals Group, and past president of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI), applauded the commitment of both FICCI and Meta to the growth of India’s small businesses. In the past year, they have collaborated to empower 500,000 women SMBs by providing them with digital marketing skills. Dr. Reddy expressed her excitement to see Meta expanding its skilling initiatives for India’s small businesses through the Meta Small Business Academy certification.
Meta has previously launched various programs tailored to the unique requirements of India’s MSMEs. Many of these initiatives have been implemented in partnership with FICCI, which serves as a strategic ally to Meta in supporting the growth of India’s MSMEs through skill development.