Walmart Summit Brings Together Indian Entrepreneurs to Tap Global Markets

New Delhi – Walmart convened its second Growth Summit at Bharat Mandapam this week, bringing together thousands of entrepreneurs, small and medium enterprises, digital-native companies, and supply chain operators keen to access markets beyond India's borders.

The event underscored the retail corporation's three-decade track record of nurturing supplier networks across India. That foundation has enabled the country to emerge as a significant manufacturing destination, with Walmart alone having procured goods worth more than $40 billion from Indian suppliers.

The summit highlighted Walmart's expanding ecosystem of support programmes. The company's Vriddhi initiative, launched in 2019, has now equipped over 115,000 small businesses with digital tools, business training, and market access. The programme targets support for 170,000 enterprises by 2028.

Leadership from both Walmart and its subsidiary Flipkart addressed the gathering, emphasizing India's growing role in international supply chains. The summit represents the latest in a series of regional events held in partnership with India's Directorate General of Foreign Trade and the Federation of Indian Export Organisations. Earlier editions took place in Jaipur and Coimbatore, with additional summits planned.

"India represents one of the most dynamic opportunities in global commerce today," said John Furner, President and CEO of Walmart Inc. "We've already sourced more than $40 billion in goods from India and are focused on strengthening entrepreneur and supplier capabilities, raising compliance and quality standards, and helping scale manufacturing so more Indian businesses are ready to export."

Flipkart's Group CEO Kalyan Krishnamurthy noted the transformative potential of digital platforms for small traders and artisans. "Through initiatives like Flipkart Samarth and Walmart Vriddhi, we are helping build capabilities, improve market access, and create pathways for businesses to grow both domestically and globally," he said.

A dedicated resource centre at the summit offered participants direct assistance on marketplace integration, regulatory navigation, and cross-border expansion. The event attracted more than 5,000 registrations, with considerable enthusiasm for accessing Walmart's U.S. marketplace and international customer bases.

Manish Joneja, Senior Vice President of Walmart Marketplace, emphasized the timing of India's export ambitions. "India's global commerce ambitions are accelerating, and Walmart Marketplace is proud to partner with businesses and organizations like DPIIT and FIEO, to help Indian businesses become export-ready and reach customers around the world."