NE EDUCATION BUREAU
CHENNAI, MAR 20
Amazon India on Thursday announced the launch of a three-year programme “Entrepreneurship for Enablement” to help 30,000 women and young people learn about starting their own business and managing their finances. The programme will run in collaboration with ACCESS Development Services, a livelihoods support organization with focus on incubating innovations for sustainable livelihoods. Co-created and funded by Amazon, the initiative will run across the states of Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Maharashtra.
- ‘Entrepreneurship for Enablement’ program has a vision to enable and transform local businesses, providing them with financial and digital literacy and opportunities to become sellers on ecommerce platforms, ensuring long term success of this innovative enterprise
- With a focus on women’s entrepreneurship, the programme aims to provide business development training and support to up to 3,000 entrepreneurs through structured mentorship programs
- The programme will run in collaboration with ACCESS Development Services, a livelihoods support organization with focus on incubating innovations for sustainable livelihoods
The launch event in Gurugram on March 20, 2025, brought together key stakeholders, including officials from Development Department, Gurugram, Reserve Bank of India, The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) and Rural Development & Self Employment Training Institute (RUDSETI), who discussed opportunities and challenges in the development of entrepreneurs.
With a focus on women’s entrepreneurship, the programme aims to provide business development training and support to up to 3,000 entrepreneurs through structured mentorship programs. Additionally, the program plans to offer digital literacy training for up to 24,000 participants focusing on smartphone usage, while facilitating digital payment platform training for up to 22,000 individuals.
The program will also support the establishment of 1,200 new enterprises, with 80% expected to achieve INR 1 lakh annual revenue by their third year. It will also develop 10 model enterprises, half of which will be women-led, which are expected to generate INR 10 to 25 lakhs in annual turnover and create new employment opportunities. The programme will also aim to create opportunities for these entrepreneurs to sell offline as well as online.
Mr. Vipin Sharma, CEO, ACCESS Development Services said, “Empowering women entrepreneurs is crucial to unlocking India’s economic resilience and achieving its $5 trillion aspiration. Our ‘Entrepreneurship for Enablement’ initiative with Amazon aims to bridge critical gaps, equipping women and youth with skills, finance, and digital tools to establish thriving businesses. Together, we can catalyze a wave of women-led enterprises, driving sustainable growth, unlocking new opportunities, and harnessing the gender dividend for a more inclusive economy.”
Dr Karuna Shankar Pande, Vice President, Amazon Logistics India said, “Entrepreneurship is a key driver of economic growth, and through this initiative, we aim to equip women and young people with the resources and skills they need to build sustainable businesses. Through this initiative, we aim to augment India’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, unlocking economic opportunities and empowering tens of thousands of individuals to become self-reliant by 2027. Our community impact initiatives like these are designed to empower the communities we serve in, enabling digital and financial inclusion and also ensuring long-term opportunities and benefits for them.”
The project will be implemented and scaled across 3 States (cluster of 5 to 8 villages) while maintaining a dual focus on knowledge building and enterprise development.
In Haryana, the project will focus on three clusters in the Farukhnagar and Taoru areas of Gurgaon district, specifically targeting Jamalpur, Sehsola, Binola, and Bhora Kalan. These locations have the potential for the growth of agricultural enterprises, food manufacturing units, retail businesses, handicrafts, and beauty services.
In Uttar Pradesh, the initiative will concentrate on two key clusters—Bhaukapur in Lucknow and Bajhera in Unnao, where there is significant scope for traditional handicrafts like chikankari and terracotta work, along with banking correspondent units, retail stores, garment businesses, and food service establishments.
In Maharashtra, the project will operate across three clusters in the Bhiwandi area. The focus will be on developing businesses around traditional handicrafts such as pottery and warli paintings, power loom units, food manufacturing, and service-oriented businesses such as tutoring and catering services. The geographies of the project aim to cater to diverse entrepreneurial opportunities while building on existing skills and market potential in each region.
Amazon India is committed to being a force for good in our communities. Since 2014, our community engagement has evolved to address key social needs, from education and livelihoods to health, environmental sustainability, and disaster response. Today, we focus on food and nutrition security, livelihoods, and associate welfare through structured, long-term programs. By collaborating with NGOs, local ambassadors, and community stakeholders, we strive to create lasting, meaningful impact.
