Government e-Marketplace (GeM), under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with UN Women to strengthen the participation and empowerment of women entrepreneurs from the informal sector within India’s public procurement ecosystem.

The partnership focuses on promoting gender-responsive procurement by increasing sourcing from women-led businesses under GeM’s Womaniya initiative. The MoU was signed by UN Women India Country Representative Kanta Singh and GeM Additional CEO Ajit B. Chavan, with GeM CEO Mihir Kumar presiding over the ceremony. He said the collaboration reinforces GeM’s commitment to expanding access to public procurement and supporting market linkages for women entrepreneurs.

GeM, the national public procurement portal for Central and State Ministries, Departments, PSUs and autonomous bodies, continues to foster transparent and inclusive procurement. Through the platform, women entrepreneurs and Self-Help Groups (SHGs) can supply products directly to government buyers. To simplify onboarding, GeM has created broad product categories covering handicrafts, handloom goods, jute and coir items, bamboo products, organic foods, spices, accessories, home décor and office furnishings.

Under the MoU, UN Women will design training materials, recommend global best practices, share success stories and help develop validation criteria for women-led enterprises. It will also promote the Womaniya – #VocalForLocal Outlet Store, support onboarding of UN programme participants, encourage MSME Udyam Registration, mobilise women trainers and connect women entrepreneurs with mentors and relevant institutions.

GeM will conduct training sessions, sensitise government buyers, highlight the achievements of women entrepreneurs and organise onboarding workshops. It will also develop training resources in regional languages, build partnerships for entrepreneurship and decent work opportunities, engage women trainers and connect women-led businesses with Government Labs and R&D institutes to support product development and market readiness.

Together, GeM and UN Women aim to advance gender-responsive procurement, strengthen hyper-local market linkages and support progress towards Sustainable Development Goal 5 — Gender Equality and the Empowerment of All Women and Girls.

The MoU signing was attended by officials from the United Nations Resident Coordinator’s Office (UNRCO) India, senior representatives from both organisations, and members of trade associations including Laghu Udyog Bharti, PHDCCI and SEWA Bharat. The ceremony took place at the GeM office in the Jeevan Bharti Building, New Delhi.