Ludhiana, January 9
The Chamber of Industrial & Commercial Undertakings (CICU) successfully organised the Walmart Vriddhi Masterclass – Ludhiana 2026 on Friday at the Sohan Lal Pahwa Auditorium, CICU Complex, drawing an overwhelming response of more than 300 MSME entrepreneurs, exporters, manufacturers, and aspiring sellers from Ludhiana and nearby industrial clusters. The auditorium was overcrowded, reflecting the strong interest of MSMEs in digital commerce, cross-border trade, and global market access.
The masterclass was organised under the Walmart Vriddhi programme, an initiative supported by Walmart in collaboration with Ideas to Impact Foundation, aimed at empowering Indian MSMEs through capacity building, digital enablement, and access to domestic and international markets.
The programme commenced with registration and a networking lunch, providing participants an opportunity to interact with industry peers, e-commerce experts, and government officials. The formal session began with opening remarks by Mr. Amit Phull, Trustee, and Ideas to Impact Foundation, who set the context of the masterclass and highlighted Walmart Vriddhi’s vision of enabling one million MSMEs across India by providing training, mentorship, and market linkages.
Delivering the keynote address, Upkar Singh Ahuja, President, CICU, made a strong and impactful statement emphasising the urgency for MSMEs to adopt digital platforms and explore global markets.
“The future of Indian MSMEs lies in technology adoption, e-commerce integration, and cross-border trade. Platforms like Walmart Vriddhi are not just opportunities, they are necessities for MSMEs who want to remain competitive in today’s global economy. CICU remains committed to bridging the gap between industry, government, and global corporations to ensure that our entrepreneurs are future-ready,” said Ahuja.
Ahuja further added that Ludhiana, being one of India’s largest MSME and export hubs, has immense potential to scale globally if given the right knowledge and ecosystem support.
A special address was delivered by Ishita Thaman, Deputy Director, MSME-DFO, Ludhiana, who highlighted the government’s continuous efforts to strengthen MSMEs through policy support, schemes, and collaborations with industry-led initiatives.
“Capacity building, digital transformation, and market access are the three pillars for MSME growth today. Programmes like Walmart Vriddhi complement government initiatives by offering practical exposure, global insights, and real-time solutions to entrepreneurs. MSMEs must actively leverage such platforms to scale sustainably and compliantly,” Thaman stated. She also encouraged entrepreneurs to make optimal use of MSME schemes, digital tools, and export facilitation mechanisms available through the Ministry of MSME.
The Chief Guest address by Pankaj Kumar Jha, Joint Director, MSME-DFO, Ludhiana, reinforced the importance of structured onboarding, compliance, and branding for MSMEs entering e-commerce and international trade. The technical sessions began with an introduction to Shopsy by Dhruv Jain, Senior Manager, Shopsy, followed by an in-depth orientation on Flipkart onboarding, conducted by Kapil Thirani, Vice President – Marketplace, along with Irshan Ahmed Siddiqui and Ankit Kejriwal, Directors – Marketplace. The speakers provided step-by-step guidance on seller onboarding, catalogue optimisation, logistics, compliance, and scaling on digital marketplaces.
Participants lauded CICU for organising a high-impact, knowledge-driven, and industry-relevant programme, calling it one of the most comprehensive MSME-focused masterclasses held in Ludhiana in recent times. The event reaffirmed CICU’s role as a leading industry body working relentlessly to empower MSMEs through strategic partnerships, policy advocacy, and capacity-building initiatives.
