Trade Enablement and Marketing (TEAM) Initiative

Why in News?

The MSME TEAM Initiative is currently conducting district-level workshops to onboard 5 lakh small businesses onto the ONDC network.

• It is a sub-scheme of the RAMP Scheme.

RAMP - The Raising and Accelerating MSME Performance (RAMP) scheme is a World Bank-supported central sector scheme designed to improve market access, credit availability, and technology adoption for Indian MSMEs.

• Aim – To strengthen market access, branding, digital storefronts, and export opportunities for Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) through Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC). 
• Nodal Ministry – Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises.
• Launched in - 2024.
• Duration – 3 years (FY 2024 - 2027).
• Implementing Agency – National Small Industries Corporation (NSIC).
• Target Beneficiaries - 5 lakh MSEs, with a mandatory focus on inclusivity—50% of beneficiaries must be women-owned enterprises.
  • Primary – Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs), startups, MSME manufacturers and service providers.
  • Secondary – Workers, logistics providers, local communities, and consumers benefiting from wider product access.
• Eligibility – All the Udyam registered Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) under manufacturing and services sectors; no direct individual beneficiaries.
• Coverage – Pan-India implementation through district-level workshops and ONDC integration.

Key Features

• Financial Subsidies - Direct monetary support for specific tasks, such as a Rs. 2,500 subsidies for cataloguing and rs.5,000 for account management.
• Institutional Handholding - The NSIC acts as a dedicated mentor, organizing district-level workshops to guide sellers through the onboarding process.
• Technical Infrastructure - Access to the TEAM Portal and Seller Network Participants (SNPs), which provide the software interface to plug into ONDC.
• Specialized Training Modules - Curriculum-based sessions on digital marketing, SEO, and online dispute resolution.
• Gender-Focused Quota - A specific feature of the scheme is the 50% reservation/target for women-owned MSMEs.
• Localized Support - Implementation of e-commerce tools in regional languages to help non-English speaking entrepreneurs.

References

1. PIB | TEAM
2. Operating Guidelines | TEAM