GeM Registers 169,000 Women-Led MSMEs for Government Procurement
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New Delhi, Dec 26 (NationPress) The Centre's Government e-marketplace (GeM) has taken significant steps to support women-led MSMEs in government procurement, with 169,000 women entrepreneurs registered who have effectively completed 2.3 million orders, as per data from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
The platform has streamlined procurement processes and greatly diminished transaction fees, providing direct advantages to MSMEs, with 97 percent of orders made being exempt from transaction costs. In the fiscal year 2024-25, GeM achieved its highest single-day order volume of 49,000, as stated in the official announcement.
Established in 2016 and overseen by the Department of Commerce, GeM has revolutionized public procurement in India by endorsing digital governance and enhancing the ease of doing business. It presents a paperless, cashless, and contactless platform for government bodies to procure goods and services directly from sellers across the nation, as mentioned in the statement.
GeM has achieved complete coverage across states and Union Territories following the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Sikkim government. It has also introduced interactive training programs in six additional languages: Assamese, Punjabi, Malayalam, Bengali, Kannada, and Telugu.
Since its launch, GeM has facilitated over 25 million orders with a gross merchandise value (GMV) surpassing Rs 11 lakh crore, which includes a services GMV of Rs 4.84 lakh crore.
As part of the government's initiative to empower MSMEs and traditional artisans in accessing international markets, a proposal for establishing E-Commerce Export Hubs (ECEHs) was made in the Union Budget 2024-25. The pilot launch of these hubs has commenced with the approval of five ECEHs located in the NCR region, Bengaluru, and Mumbai.
These hubs will function under a cohesive regulatory and logistics framework, offering extensive trade and export-related services, including warehousing, packaging, labeling, certification, logistics, and returns management for cross-border e-commerce.
The aim of these hubs is to facilitate exporters in warehousing goods and ensuring prompt deliveries to global markets.
Additionally, GeM has unveiled a new online store called The AABHAR Collection under the #VocalForLocal initiative. This store is intended to feature curated One District One Product (ODOP), Geographical Indication (GI), and other remarkable products, including gift hampers from selected organizations such as CCIE, TRIFED, KVIC, and State Handloom & Handicraft Emporiums, as per the official statement.
