Amazon India has unveiled an ambitious initiative aimed at fostering entrepreneurship among 30,000 youth and women across three states in India. The ‘Entrepreneurship for Enablement’ program, set to run for three years, will focus on digital literacy, financial inclusion, and business development support.
The initiative targets aspiring entrepreneurs in Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Maharashtra. It aims to provide comprehensive support, including awareness campaigns, business development guidance, and digital skills training. The program will also facilitate access to banking services, insurance coverage, and relevant government support schemes.
Karuna Shanker Pande, Vice President of Amazon Logistics India, explained the initiative’s objectives in a recent interview. He emphasized the program’s holistic approach to entrepreneurship, with a strong emphasis on women’s economic empowerment and digital integration.
“We want this to become sustainable beyond the three years,” Pande stated. “That can happen through business development handholding and by enabling participants to effectively use technology on smartphones, digital platforms, and digital payments.”
The initiative aims to empower 3,000 entrepreneurs through systematic business development support. It also seeks to enable 90% of participants to use smartphones and digital platforms effectively, and 80% to engage with digital payment applications.
Amazon India has partnered with Access Development Services to implement this program. The collaboration leverages Access Development Services’ expertise in youth and women empowerment, while building on Amazon’s existing community engagement efforts in these regions.
The selection of Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Maharashtra for this initiative was based on Amazon’s strong network presence in these states, as well as their unique entrepreneurial potential. Each state offers distinct opportunities in sectors such as agriculture, handicrafts, and manufacturing.
This initiative comes in response to recent studies highlighting the challenges faced by India’s youth, particularly young women, in accessing education and employment opportunities. By focusing on digital inclusion, enterprise development, and women’s empowerment, Amazon India aims to contribute to the country’s vision for inclusive growth and self-reliance.
As the program progresses, Amazon will regularly monitor its impact until 2027, using clear markers to track progress and fine-tune the approach as needed.
