Walmart Vriddhi MSME Summit 2025
Dr. Ambedkar International Centre,
Janpath, New Delhi
June 19, 2025
Walmart Vriddhi MSME Summit 2025 marked a key milestone in the program’s journey by announcing the expanded goal to empower 100,000 MSMEs for business growth by 2028. Hon’ble Union Minister of State for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and Labour & Employment, Smt. Shobha Karandlaje, attended and addressed the event, alongside leadership from Walmart, Flipkart and MSMEs.
Summit Snippets
Hon’ble Union Minister, Smt. Shobha Karandlaje and Mr. Nittin Dutt, Senior Director, India Supplier Development, Sourcing, Walmart visiting Walmart Vriddhi graduate exhibits at the event.
Girish Nair, Associate Director, Flipkart explaining the opportunities offered by Flipkart Marketplace at the Walmart Vriddhi MSME Summit 2025.
Parul Soni, Trustee, Ideas to Impact Foundation; Jason Fremstad, Senior Vice President, Supplier Development, Walmart; Rajneesh Kumar, Senior Vice President and Chief Corporate Affairs Officer at Flipkart Group; Hon’ble Union Minister, Smt. Shobha Karandlaje; Persis Khambatta, Director, Global Government Affairs, India & South Asia at Walmart; Gaurav Lather, Deputy Director in the Directorate of MSME, Haryana; exchanging the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), to lay the foundation for future collaborations.
Jason Fremstad, Senior Vice President, Supplier Development, Walmart interacting with Walmart Vriddhi graduate Ajay Babu from Tendrils Naturals LLP at the summit.
Masterclass Trainer and Managing Partner of Eternal Capital, Dhruv Dhanraj Bahl, delivering an engaging session on branding for MSMEs.
The Fireside Chat
The fireside chat, moderated by Nittin Dutt, Senior Director, India Supplier Development, Sourcing at Walmart, featured Walmart Vriddhi program graduates Samir Padhan (Co-founder and CEO Danodia Foods), Nisha Nair (Founder, Yamini Lifestyle), and Bhupendra Khanal (CEO, Khanal Foods). The discussion highlighted how a focus on expanding market access, a strong digital foundation, and a commitment to continuous learning can together unlock meaningful growth for micro, small, and medium enterprises.
Summit Highlights
Hon’ble Union Minister, Smt. Shobha Karandlaje, emphasized that MSMEs are the driving force of India’s economy. In her address, she noted that while MSMEs are leading India’s growth story, their continued success hinges on improved branding, digital readiness, and access to technology, which Walmart Vriddhi is helping bridge through training and mentorship.
Jason Fremstad, shared Walmart’s vision to empower MSMEs through digital upskilling and expanded market access. He highlighted the critical role small businesses play in driving India’s vibrant innovation ecosystem.
Rajneesh Kumar, reaffirmed Flipkart’s strong commitment to empowering MSMEs by making digital commerce more accessible and inclusive. He stated that Flipkart, through initiatives like Walmart Vriddhi, is actively helping entrepreneurs grow their businesses and contributing to the growth of India’s rapidly evolving digital economy.
Expert sessions on the Walmart Supplier Academy were conducted by Todd Wetmore, Senior Director, Supplier Education & Capabilities, Walmart, and Cat Wiggen, Director, Supplier Education, Walmart.