The Government e-Marketplace (GeM) has entered into a partnership with Common Service Centre e-Governance Services India Limited (CSC-SPV) to widen access to government procurement opportunities, with a particular focus on rural and underserved regions across the country.
The collaboration was formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed on June 18 at the GeM office in New Delhi. The agreement expands the scope of cooperation between the two organizations, moving beyond seller registration support to provide assistance throughout the onboarding and catalogue listing process.
Under the new arrangement, sellers will receive support for vendor assessment, brand approval, and the creation and publication of product and service catalogues. The initiative is aimed at simplifying participation in public procurement and helping businesses navigate GeM’s onboarding requirements more efficiently.
A key component of the partnership is the launch of 50 GeM Suvidha Kendras through the CSC network on a pilot basis. The centres will be established across selected states, including Delhi-NCR, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Telangana and West Bengal. These facilities are expected to serve as local support hubs, offering guidance, training, onboarding assistance and access-related services for prospective sellers.
The centres will also provide support to micro and small enterprises (MSEs), startups, women entrepreneurs, SC/ST entrepreneurs, artisans, weavers, Self-Help Groups (SHGs), Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) and local manufacturers seeking to participate in government procurement.
Officials said the expanded partnership builds on earlier collaboration efforts that have already enabled the registration and profile creation of nearly 5.3 lakh sellers through the CSC network. The new framework is intended to strengthen GeM’s last-mile reach, improve onboarding outcomes and increase catalogue availability on the platform.
The MoU was signed by GeM Additional Chief Executive Officer Ajit B. Chavan and CSC-SPV Senior Vice President Subodh Mishra. The pilot programme will be reviewed before being considered for expansion to additional states and Union Territories.
Source: This article is based on the official press release issued by the Press Information Bureau (PIB), Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India
Press Release Page | Press Information Bureau
