Women Entrepreneurs Achieve Rs 83,323 Crore in GeM Orders: Government Report
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
New Delhi, March 6 (NationPress) Women entrepreneurs have seen a significant increase in their growth on the Government e-Marketplace (GeM), with total order values soaring from Rs 1,265.62 crore in FY2018–19 to Rs 83,323 crore by FY2025–26, as reported by the government on Friday.
During this timeframe, order volumes surged from 1,01,530 to 44,48,894, showcasing the growing involvement of women-led businesses in public procurement over the seven-year span of SWAYATT (Startups, Women and Youth Advantage through e-Transactions).
The participation of startups has also gained substantial traction on the GeM platform, with cumulative order values escalating from Rs 497.24 crore in FY 2018–19 to Rs 54,005.8 crore by FY 2025–26.
In the same period, order volumes expanded from 17,434 to 5,30,578, underscoring the increasing significance of startups in public procurement through the SWAYATT initiative.
On Friday, GeM marked the seven-year milestone of its flagship program, SWAYATT, reaffirming its dedication to fostering an inclusive public procurement process for startups, women entrepreneurs, and youth throughout India.
GeM CEO Mihir Kumar stated that SWAYATT represents GeM's vision to enhance inclusivity in public procurement by allowing startups, women entrepreneurs, and youth to directly access government markets.
He emphasized that by harnessing digital technology and forming partnerships within the ecosystem, GeM is facilitating the transformation of emerging enterprises into active contributors to the nation's economic advancement.
SWAYATT was envisioned to democratize government procurement, enabling startups, women entrepreneurs, youth, Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs), Self Help Groups (SHGs), and last-mile sellers to engage directly in the public procurement ecosystem via GeM.
As per an official statement, SWAYATT aims to tackle three critical challenges often encountered by emerging enterprises: access to markets, access to finance, and access to value addition.
Utilizing GeM's digital procurement infrastructure, the initiative allows businesses from across the nation to connect directly with government buyers, thereby lowering barriers to entry and broadening opportunities.
The celebratory program honoring the seven-year journey of SWAYATT took place at the GeM office, gathering policymakers, startup founders, women entrepreneurs, and ecosystem partners to reflect on the initiative's impact and future direction.