Andhra Pradesh has urged Walmart and Flipkart to expand sourcing from the state beyond seafood and pharmaceuticals, creating dedicated supply-chain access for MSMEs, women-led self-help groups and local artisans.
The proposal was raised by Andhra Pradesh IT and Human Resources Development Minister Nara Lokesh during a meeting with Paul Dyck, Walmart’s Senior Vice-President for Global Government Affairs and Business Diplomacy, on the sidelines of the 31st CII Partnership Summit.
According to an official statement, the state wants Walmart and Flipkart to bring more products made by smaller enterprises and community-based producers into their domestic and global supply chains. Lokesh suggested that Walmart bring its global buyers to an Andhra Pradesh MSME sourcing event focused on seafood and textiles, building on the Walmart Growth Summit in New Delhi, which connected Indian suppliers with the company’s global buying teams.
The minister also proposed a dedicated channel for products made by women-led self-help groups and local artisans. These products could be sold under the state’s Swayam AP and Lepakshi brands, the statement said.
Walmart already sources more than 65 million pounds of shrimp annually from Andhra Pradesh, according to the statement. The company also sources pharmaceuticals, textiles and engineering goods from the state. The government’s proposal seeks to widen that relationship by connecting a larger number of local producers with organised retail and international procurement networks.
The expansion would build on existing marketplace and training activity in the state. Flipkart’s investments in Andhra Pradesh have created more than 28,000 direct and indirect jobs, while its network includes more than 100 logistics hubs covering about 1.2 million square feet of infrastructure space. The company also has around 0.33 million square feet of wholesale space in the state.
Under a memorandum of understanding with the Andhra Pradesh MSME Corporation and the Ratan Tata Innovation Hub, more than 3,200 MSMEs have received training. More than 900 of those enterprises are now selling through the Flipkart and Walmart marketplaces, according to the official statement.
The figures point to the infrastructure required to move small-producer goods from local production clusters to larger markets. However, the immediate proposal is focused on sourcing access rather than announcing a confirmed procurement target, investment commitment or implementation schedule.
Dyck said Walmart would examine the proposals made by the state government. Lokesh said Andhra Pradesh’s MSMEs, women’s groups and artisans produce goods of global quality but need a direct line to global buyers through Walmart and Flipkart. The companies’ response and any subsequent sourcing programme will determine whether the proposal leads to additional market access for these producer groups.
