In collaboration with the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), Meta has launched the Meta Small Business Academy (MSBA) to upskill 10 lakh traders over the next three years.
On Monday, global tech leader Meta announced its collaboration with the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) to initiate the training of 10 lakh traders over the coming three years.
This initiative accompanies the launch of Meta’s Small Business Academy (MSBA), commemorating World MSME Day on June 27.
The CAIT initiative will offer multilingual options to expand its reach across regional communities. The course module and the examinations will be available in English, Hindi, Marathi, Bengali, Kannada, Tamil, and Telugu.
The primary objective is to upskill traders using the WhatsApp Business app, enabling them to connect with a wider customer base digitally.
Meta Small Business Academy (MSBA)
The Meta Small Business Academy aims to upskill 10 million small businesses on the WhatsApp Business App over the next three years. This target aligns with Meta’s strategic goal of driving digital inclusivity and growth for small to medium businesses.
Sandhya Devanathan, Vice President (India), Meta, expressed her thoughts on this new endeavour, stating, “While the MSBA certification will particularly benefit entrepreneurs who are just starting, our partnership with CAIT will empower traders across India to use the WhatsApp Business app to connect with their customers and supercharge their growth journeys.”
Praveen Khandelwal, National Secretary General of CAIT, echoed this sentiment, saying, “We believe this initiative will unlock new growth opportunities for traders across India, and we look forward to partnering even more closely with Meta to expand the business and digital skilling charter in the months to come to address the evolving needs of the trading community.”
A Digital Revolution for Small and Medium Enterprises
According to a survey commissioned by Meta and IPSOS Public Affairs in 2022, 91 per cent of the surveyed small and medium enterprises currently using digital tools in India highlighted that messaging apps and tools are a crucial way to connect with customers.
More than half of the respondents claimed that WhatsApp has significantly aided their business in gaining access to new customers.
The launch of the Meta Small Business Academy and the partnership with CAIT aim to leverage this growing trend of digital communication for business growth. The upskilling initiative will equip traders with the tools to navigate the digital marketplace effectively, fostering connectivity and business expansion across India.