CSR News: ‘Digital Saksham’ empowers over 300,000 Indian small businesses with digital transformation

Mumbai, India: Digital Saksham, a Mastercard Strive program implemented by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), has reached 304,623 enterprises nationwide, enabling 51,455 businesses to adopt digital technologies. Supported by the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth, Mastercard Strive is a global program focused on enabling small businesses to thrive in the digital economy.

This milestone demonstrates how coordinated action across stakeholders can accelerate digital adoption to deliver meaningful impact for the country’s micro and small enterprises (MSEs) and strengthen the economy. Designed to help small businesses overcome barriers to technology adoption, the program has equipped entrepreneurs with essential skills and tools to improve efficiency, expand market access and build long-term resilience. While CII has led industry outreach, the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth, through Mastercard Strive, has anchored the initiative as part of its commitment to advancing inclusive economic growth in the country.

Beyond scale, the program demonstrated measurable impact for participating MSEs, with 15% of surveyed MSEs reporting increase in sales of more than 10% and emergence of new growth opportunities through enhanced use of social media, digital marketing, and e-commerce to expand their reach and improve efficiency. Further, nearly 50% of surveyed MSEs who registered for GST reported receiving nearly 15% additional income through credit, reduced payment delays and improved business credibility. Additionally, most MSEs surveyed saw measurable benefits within one to three months of adopting digital tools.

Highlighting the potential of the program, Gautam Aggarwal, Division President, South Asia, Mastercard, said, “India’s MSEs are making global strides and Mastercard is committed to supporting them every step of the way. Through Digital Saksham, Mastercard and CII have proven that bold collaborations and smart digital solutions can unlock real growth. When entrepreneurs have the right tools, they don’t just survive—they thrive, fuelling innovation and prosperity for all. This is how we move closer to Viksit Bharat: a future where every business, even in the most remote parts of the country, has the power to succeed.”

Underlining the significance of the program, Sunil Chordia, Chairman, CII National MSME Council, said, “Digital Saksham has been a transformative initiative in empowering India’s MSME sector by leveraging the CII’s nationwide network and Mastercard’s global expertise. From Tirupur’s textile hubs to tribal regions in Jharkhand, it has equipped micro and small enterprises with vital digital tools, turning traditional businesses into tech-enabled ventures and strengthening entire value chains. Looking ahead, the initiative aims to integrate advanced technologies like AI and emerging DigiTech to help MSMEs build future-ready capabilities, access new markets, and drive grassroots innovation in the digital economy.”

Emphasizing the impact of the initiative, Subhashini Chandran, Senior Vice President, Asia Pacific, Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth, said, “The impact of Digital Saksham has been both timely and transformative. Small businesses are at the heart of India’s economy, yet many continue to face barriers to digital adoption that limit their growth and resilience. By equipping entrepreneurs with the right skills and tools, the program has not only empowered individual enterprises but also strengthened the broader MSME sector. We are proud to have worked alongside CII to deliver this impact at scale. This success reinforces our commitment to advancing digital and financial inclusion at scale, and enabling small businesses to drive sustainable, community-led growth across India.”

Mastercard Strive is working towards a goal of enabling 500,000 Indian small businesses to participate in the digital economy by 2026. Globally, Mastercard Strive has supported over 19 million small businesses worldwide since 2020 by facilitating access to capital, digital tools and knowledge networks.

Disclaimer: This media release is auto-generated. The CSR Journal is not responsible for the content.

Long or Short, get news the way you like. No ads. No redirections. Download Newspin and Stay Alert, The CSR Journal Mobile app, for fast, crisp, clean updates!

App Store –  https://apps.apple.com/in/app/newspin/id6746449540 

Google Play Store – https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.inventifweb.newspin&pcampaignid=web_share