Procter & Gamble India (P&G India) partnered WEConnect International to conduct the next edition of the Women Entrepreneur Development Programme (WEDP). Over 30 women entrepreneurs, selected via an application process, successfully completed the two-day programme aimed at capacity development. The holistic programme saw senior leaders from P&G conduct trainings and workshops with real-time case studies on various aspects of building a sustainable business including professional skills such as business strategy, finance capital, new customer outreach, as well as strategic inputs for driving business growth.
The programme also provided women entrepreneurs an opportunity to explore business opportunities with P&G. The firm has already spent ?400 crore on working with women-owned and women-led businesses in the last two years, as was committed by the company in 2018.
LV Vaidyanathan, CEO, P&G India believes “this initiative is in line with our global commitment to empower women-owned and women led businesses, which is an important aspect of our citizenship efforts.” The initiative is a “holistic capability platform which will help women entrepreneurs build their businesses sustainably” because “empowering and enabling equal and inclusive business practices will not only stimulate economic growth, but also bring about a long-lasting social change.”
Following the training, P&G India’s flagship External Business Partner Summit saw the firm announcing a ?300 Crore ‘P&G Supply Chain Catalyst Fund’ to collaborate with external partners and innovators, in co-creating solutions that accelerate its journey towards Supply 3.0 – the modern supply chain ecosystem.
The fund is aimed at creating a supply chain that provides greater agility, flexibility, scalability, transparency and resilience.The announcement is in line with the Prime Minister’s Gati Shakti initiative aimed at multi-modal connectivity in the country, that will enhance seamless movement of goods and services through targeted interventions. The strategic investment will ensure supply chain optimisation, digitisation, capacity enhancement and sustainability, all designed to strengthen and catalyse the company’s supply chain.
This new fund is part of the ‘vGROW’ programme that focuses on identifying and collaborating with start-ups, small businesses, individuals, and large organisations offering innovative industry-leading business solutions.
