Amazon India signs an MoU with Odisha’s Directorate of Textiles on National Handloom Day to bring GI-tagged fabrics and local artisans onto Amazon Karigar
OdishaPlus Bureau
On National Handloom Day, Amazon India has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Directorate of Textiles, Government of Odisha, to extend the benefits of e-commerce to more than 1.30 lakh weavers and artisans across the State.
The agreement seeks to provide Odisha’s handloom and handicraft communities with wider market access by enabling eligible weavers and artisans to sell their products online through Amazon Karigar, Amazon India’s dedicated programme for artisans and weavers.
The MoU was signed in the presence of Odisha Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati, Cooperation, Handlooms, Textiles and Handicrafts Minister Pradeep Bal Samanta, Commissioner-cum-Secretary of the Handlooms, Textiles and Handicrafts Department Guha Poonam Tapas Kumar, and Director of Textiles and Handloom Surya Patnaik.
Under the partnership, eligible weavers and artisans recommended by the Directorate of Textiles will be onboarded onto Amazon Karigar. The initiative will enable them to showcase Odisha’s traditional handloom products to customers across India, potentially opening up new markets beyond conventional retail channels.
The platform will feature Odisha’s nine GI-tagged handloom products, including Sambalpuri Bandha, Orissa Ikat, Khandua, Bomkai, Gopalpur Tussar, Berhampur Patta, Kotpad Handloom, Habaspuri and Dhalapathar fabrics.
Amazon will provide participating sellers with a range of support services, including onboarding assistance, training, initial account management, imaging and cataloguing, as well as marketing support.
The partnership is expected to help weavers and artisans improve their digital capabilities, strengthen their brands and expand their customer base while preserving and promoting Odisha’s distinctive handloom traditions.
The initiative also comes at a time when e-commerce platforms are increasingly becoming important channels for traditional artisans seeking direct access to consumers. By bringing Odisha’s GI-tagged textiles onto a nationwide marketplace, the collaboration could provide the State’s handloom sector with greater visibility and create additional opportunities for income generation and enterprise development.