Global retail giants Walmart and Amazon are strengthening their partnerships with micro, small & medium enterprises (MSMEs) ahead of the launch of an e-commerce venture by Reliance Industries later this month.

Under the Vriddhi supplier development programme, Walmart aims to train 50,000 small businesses to expand their domestic capabilities and participate in the global economy.

Institutes will be opened under the Vriddhi programme, which will be strategically located near the manufacturing clusters and are part of Walmart’s “long-term commitment to India”, Walmart International president and CEO Judith McKenna said.

Amazon India has also announced that it has partnered the CII to facilitate MSMEs to develop their business further by listing and selling their products and services online.

“Small units are the backbone of our economy and it is important that they have complete support in their journey into e-commerce,” said Gopal Pillai, vice-president, seller services, Amazon India.