AB InBev India joins the ONDC Network to empower micro-entrepreneurs

Bengaluru, India: AB InBev India, a leading beer and beverage company, is empowering micro-entrepreneurs across India through the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC). This initiative is a part of AB InBev India’s ‘Swadhaar’ program, which aims to help businesses run by micro-entrepreneurs across the communities the company serves.

The ‘Swadhaar’ program addresses challenges faced by micro-enterprises, particularly those in the food processing, retail distribution, and allied sectors. These businesses often lack access to national markets and digital skills, limiting their income and growth potential. The program is specifically aimed at digitally empowering micro-entrepreneurs in the rural, semi-rural, and peri-urban areas, focusing on farmers, micro-businesses, MSMEs, and Kirana stores with an annual turnover of less than Rs. 3 crores.

“Swadhaar will create an equitable and thriving ecosystem for micro-enterprises,” said Anasuya Ray, Vice President – Corporate Affairs, AB InBev India. “By leveraging the ONDC Network, we aim to bridge the digital divide and unlock multiple opportunities for small businesses. This initiative will not only empower micro-entrepreneurs to expand their e-commerce prospects in the communities we serve but also strengthen our value chain, ensuring that we support and grow alongside our partners at every level.”

Through Swadhaar, AB InBev India plans to onboard over 5,000 new sellers on ONDC Network by 2030. This will contribute significantly to sustainable economic growth and empower rural communities across India.

In its first year, the Swadhaar program aims to empower 500 small-scale sellers across Karnataka, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and West Bengal through the ONDC Network. The initiative places a special emphasis on onboarding small-scale, women-led enterprises, farmers, nano-businesses, MSMEs, and Kirana stores from diverse sectors like retail, FMCG, agro-food and allied sectors.

The ONDC Network, a key driver of digital commerce growth, is a Government of India initiative designed to foster an inclusive and expansive digital future for Indian businesses. AB InBev India through Swadhaar leverages ONDC Network’s power to unlock exponential growth in the e-commerce space across all sectors.

T. Koshy, MD & CEO of ONDC, said, “ONDC Network’s mission is to democratize digital commerce, enabling businesses of every size to flourish in the online marketplace. AB InBev India’s Swadhaar program, harnessing the power of the vast Open Network, perfectly illustrates how we can empower micro-entrepreneurs to overcome geographical barriers and showcase their products to customers nationwide. By prioritising underserved segments such as women-led enterprises and rural businesses, we’re not merely expanding e-commerce accessibility; we’re fundamentally reshaping how small businesses engage in the digital economy, paving the way for a more inclusive and prosperous India.”