India's largest online marketplace, and E-commerce firm Snapdeal, announced a partnership with the University of California (UC), Berkeley and Andhra Pradesh (AP) Government, for the State Government’s Smart Village Project.

The objective of the joint partnership, is to create viable solutions through digitization and new-age services, and also to enable digital access for small artisans in the State's “Smart Village” project, said Snapdeal.

Under the partnership, Snapdeal, through its platform, will provide local handloom weavers, direct market access to buyers cross the country.

The products crafted by these artisans and associations will be curated and listed on a special page on Snapdeal, the company said.

The company said it has currently on-boarded the handloom association of the Meri Podu village as a seller.

Snapdeal, Senior Vice President, Vishal Chadha, said, “the company is proud to partner with the AP Government, and UC Berkeley, enabling digital access and generating a world of commercial opportunities for small artisans.

“Working with a vibrant base of three lakh sellers of various sizes, we continue to drive inclusive growth and in-sync development,” said Vishal Chadha.

“Through this collaboration, we aim to create employment and growth opportunities for local artisans, enhancing the reach of indigenously manufactured products to newer geographies and extending their legacy,” added Vishal Chadha.

By Supraja