Meta Partners with CAIT to Empower 1 Million Indian Traders Through Skilling Initiatives

In a reaffirmation of its dedication to the growth of India’s small businesses, Meta has announced two new skilling initiatives in the country. The tech giant has forged a partnership with the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) to provide training for 1 million traders on the WhatsApp Business App over the next three years.

Additionally, Meta has launched the Meta Small Business Academy, an outcome of the company’s commitment in 2021 to upskill 10 million small businesses. The certification offered by the Meta Small Business Academy will be especially beneficial for new entrepreneurs and marketers, equipping them with vital digital marketing skills to thrive on Meta’s apps. To ensure widespread accessibility, the course module and examination are available in seven languages, including English, Hindi, Marathi, Bengali, Kannada, Tamil, and Telugu.

Sandhya Devanathan, Vice President (India) at Meta, emphasized the significance of skilling in fostering growth for India’s micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). She stated, “At Meta, we are committed to providing timely skill development opportunities for businesses throughout their growth journeys. While the MSBA certification will particularly benefit entrepreneurs who are just starting out, our partnership with CAIT will empower traders across India to utilize the WhatsApp Business app for connecting with customers and accelerating their growth.”

A survey commissioned by Meta and conducted by IPSOS Public Affairs in 2022 revealed that 91% of small and medium enterprises in India currently using digital tools consider messaging apps and tools to be crucial for customer engagement. Over half of the respondents reported that WhatsApp has helped their businesses gain access to new customers. With WhatsApp becoming a prevalent platform for both personal and business communication, it presents an ideal medium for enterprises to connect with their target audience.

Praveen Khandelwal, National Secretary General of CAIT, highlighted the importance of technology and the internet for India’s trading community. He emphasized the need to equip businesses of all sizes with the necessary skills to drive growth. Under the “WhatsApp Se Vyapaar” campaign, CAIT will collaborate with Meta to train 1 million traders, digitally empowering them to enhance their businesses using the WhatsApp Business App. Khandelwal expressed optimism that this initiative will unlock new growth opportunities for traders across India, and he looks forward to further collaboration with Meta to address the evolving needs of the trading community.

The partnership between CAIT and Meta will involve thousands of trade associations affiliated with CAIT across the country. Meta has been actively launching various programs tailored to the unique requirements of India’s MSMEs in recent years. Several of these initiatives have been carried out in collaboration with the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI), which serves as a strategic partner to Meta in empowering India’s MSMEs through skilling.

Dr. Sangita Reddy, Chair of G20 EMPOWER, Joint MD of Apollo Hospitals Group, and Past President of FICCI, commended the commitment shared by FICCI and Meta toward the growth of India’s small businesses. She highlighted their collective achievement of empowering half-a-million women-owned SMBs by providing them with digital marketing skills. Dr. Reddy expressed enthusiasm for Meta’s expanded skilling efforts with the launch of the Meta Small Business Academy certification. She also noted Meta’s support for FICCI’s work on Digital Financial Literacy through the G20 EMPOWER Digital Inclusion Platform, which contributes to women’s digital and financial inclusion. Dr. Reddy expressed eagerness to continue partnering with Meta in building a robust ecosystem for small businesses nationwide, particularly those led by women.

Meta’s commitment to supporting India’s small businesses through skilling programs demonstrates its dedication to empowering entrepreneurs and marketers, fostering digital growth, and enabling businesses to thrive in an evolving digital landscape.