In a significant move towards empowering micro enterprises and rural producers in Odisha, Government e Marketplace (GeM) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Odisha Rural Development and Marketing Society (ORMAS) in Bhubaneswar. The MoU was formalised in the presence of Shri Pradip Kumar Amat, Hon’ble Cabinet Minister, Panchayati Raj & Drinking Water Department, Government of Odisha.
ORMAS, renowned for its efforts in supporting MSEs, rural entrepreneurs, and producers in Odisha, focuses on creating effective marketing channels for their business growth. The association extends handholding support to all its affiliated stakeholders in marketing and branding activities.
Under the MoU, all micro enterprises and rural producers affiliated with ORMAS will be integrated into GeM. This collaboration will offer these regional sellers and service providers direct access to the national government buyer market through the GeM platform.
The agreement opens up avenues for sellers associated with ORMAS, such as women and SC/ST MSEs, start-ups, weavers, artisans, FPOs, FPCs, SHGs, to expand their business opportunities. They can showcase their product catalogues through dedicated outlets on GeM, enhancing their brand visibility and establishing robust marketing networks for rural produces.
GeM, driven by the core values of Efficiency, Transparency, and Inclusivity, places a strong emphasis on social inclusion. The platform, launched in August 2016 as part of the “Digital India” initiative, facilitates the procurement of goods and services by various government entities. GeM aims to simplify the public procurement process, reduce paperwork, and promote the use of digital technology for better governance. The platform’s digitization efforts have removed manual interventions and entry barriers, fostering an environment conducive to ease of doing business on a national scale.