Amazon announces grant for Indian businesses to set up delivery

12 Aug 2022 CW Team

Ecommerce firm Amazon has announced a grant to empower entrepreneurs from underrepresented communities to join its Delivery Service Partner (DSP) programme in India.

DSP assists entrepreneurs in starting their own delivery business by providing them with access to Amazon's delivery technology and hands-on training. It also provides exclusively negotiated deals on services such as payroll management, insurance, and recruitment technology.

Amazon said it has committed nearly $7 million worldwide supporting hundreds of entrepreneurs through various grant programmes. A diversity grant assists women, persons with disability and people from the LGBTQIA+ community with covering some of the costs of setting up business. Those with no prior logistics experience can apply for the grant and participate in the programme.

"The DSP programme has not only aided Amazon in providing growth opportunities to SMBs, but it has also enabled us to expand our delivery network into the country's hinterlands,” said Dr Karuna Shankar Pande, director at Amazon Logistics, India. “We are offering a special grant to women and other underrepresented communities joining the program to evolve the entrepreneurship ecosystem in logistics.”

In 2021, Amazon expanded the DSP programme in India to support aspiring entrepreneurs to develop and launch their delivery services, even if they had no prior delivery expertise. Amazon India has more than 350 entrepreneurs who are part of the programme.

Infrastructure Urban

06 Jul 2026

ABS Marine Sees CRISIL Credit Rating Upgrade

ABS Marine Services has secured an upgrade to its long term and short term credit ratings from CRISIL, reflecting improved profitability and revenue growth through long term contracts. CRISIL moved the long term rating from BBB+/Stable to A-/Stable and revised the short term rating from A2 to A2+. The action signals strengthened financial metrics and operational resilience. The company benefited from durable client relationships with firms such as ONGC and Schlumberger. The rating decision followed stronger cash flows and an enlarged bank loan facility, which increased from Rs 3,705 million (m..

Project BRAHMANK Marks 16 Years Of Strategic Roads In Arunachal

Project BRAHMANK is marking 16 years of work to establish strategic road and bridge links across Arunachal Pradesh, maintaining and developing 811 kilometres of roads and nearly 86 bridges that range from small culverts to large steel and arch bridges. These transport links are described as critical for ensuring year-round movement of defence personnel, equipment and essential supplies while improving everyday travel for people in remote villages. The project balances national security requirements with regional development by focusing on reliable access in challenging terrain. Notable enginee..

Longleng CSOs Give One Week Ultimatum Over Two-Lane Highway

Civil society organisations (CSOs) in Longleng district have demanded immediate restoration of the deteriorating Changtongya–Longleng two-lane road and sought a detailed status report on the stalled construction within one week. The demand followed a consultative meeting convened under the Phom Peoples' Council (PPC) to discuss welfare and development concerns. PPC president YB Angam Phom said prolonged non-maintenance had caused hardship to commuters and affected transportation, local commerce and the district's development. The meeting urged authorities to undertake immediate restoration a..