The Government e-Marketplace (GeM) marked the sixth anniversary of the Startups, Women & Youth Advantage through eTransactions (SWAYATT) initiative at its headquarters in New Delhi on February 19, 2025. Launched on February 19, 2019, SWAYATT has focused on boosting the involvement of women-led businesses, startups, youth, and marginalized communities in public procurement. Aligned with GeM’s dedication to social inclusion, the initiative promotes ease of doing business, creates direct market connections, and empowers small-scale entrepreneurs.
Key Highlights of SWAYATT’s 6-Year Journey
Empowering Entrepreneurs
- SWAYATT focuses on onboarding, training, and supporting last-mile sellers, especially women entrepreneurs, micro & small enterprises (MSEs), and self-help groups (SHGs).
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with FICCI-FLO
- On the 6th anniversary, GeM signed an MoU with FICCI Ladies Organisation (FICCI-FLO), representing over 9,500 women entrepreneurs, to facilitate direct market access and boost local job creation.
Startup Growth
- From just 3,400 startups at launch, the platform now supports over 29,000 startups, who have received orders worth ₹35,950 Crore.
Women’s Participation in Public Procurement
- Women entrepreneurs now constitute 8% of GeM’s seller base, with 1,77,786 Udyam-verified women MSEs contributing to a cumulative order value of ₹46,615 Crore.
Dedicated Platforms
- SWAYATT includes specialized storefronts such as “Startup Runway” and “Womaniya”, enhancing visibility and business opportunities for startups and women-led enterprises.
Vision for Expansion
- GeM aims to onboard 1 Lakh DPIIT-registered startups, double the number of women entrepreneurs, and increase their share in national procurement beyond 3.78%.
