The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), in partnership with Meta, has rolled out a new national initiative titled ‘Vyaapar Sakhi.’ This programme is aimed at training 25,000 women entrepreneurs in digital skills using the WhatsApp Business App.
The Vyaapar Sakhi program will run from June 2025 to November 2025 and is geared towards helping women traders build a stronger digital presence. The training will be conducted in person and delivered in multiple regional languages, making it more accessible to women in tier-2 and tier-3 cities across India.
The initiative will be led by the women’s wing of CAIT and is designed to equip participants with hands-on knowledge about using WhatsApp Business tools. These include setting up business profiles, creating product catalogues, using automated messaging features, and learning the basics of digital advertising.
According to CAIT, a large number of women entrepreneurs currently run informal businesses and often lack structured access to digital commerce training. This initiative aims to address that gap, particularly in regions where digital adoption remains low.
Speaking on the partnership, Shivnath Thukral, Vice President and Head of Public Policy at Meta India, said,“Vyaapar Sakhi is a significant milestone in realizing Prime Minister Modi’s commitment to Nari Shakti and women-led development. This collaboration between CAIT and Meta highlights the power of public-private partnerships to unlock grassroots innovation and empower women entrepreneurs in a digital-first India.”
As WhatsApp becomes an increasingly important platform for small-scale business transactions and communications, the Vyaapar Sakhi initiative represents a significant move towards formalising digital commerce for women-led ventures. For CAIT and Meta, this collaboration reflects a broader commitment to enabling digital inclusion for underserved communities across India.
About CAIT
The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) is a leading national organization representing the interests of over 9crore traders and small businesses across India. Established with the goal of empowering the Indian trading community, CAIT has been at the forefront of advocating for policies that promote the growth and sustainability of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), retailers, and traders.
With a vast network of over 40,000 trade associations, CAIT serves as the voice of Indian traders, working tirelessly to protect their rights, ensure fair trade practices, and drive policy reforms that foster business-friendly environments.
