DTDC Express Limited, one of India’s leading multinational logistics companies, today announced the launch of Kaarigo, a dedicated e-commerce platform designed to help artisans, local sellers, MSMEs and small-town businesses reach new markets through digital commerce.
Kaarigo brings together digital storefronts, seller enablement and DTDC’s logistics network to address a key barrier for grassroots entrepreneurs: access to wider markets. The platform supports sellers across their entire digital journey — from onboarding and cataloguing to online selling and fulfilment — while connecting them to DTDC’s nationwide infrastructure. With over 16,500+ touchpoints across India and reach to 220+ global destinations, DTDC offers the foundation for local businesses to expand beyond their immediate regions.
As part of this initiative, DTDC aims to onboard 1,000 artisans onto Kaarigo over the next 12 months. The platform is tailored for first-time digital sellers, focusing on simplicity and guided steps into e-commerce. Dedicated seller support packages will cover registration, product photography, storefront creation and international listing assistance, with advanced solutions available for scaling businesses.
The launch also featured a special conversation with Padma Shri Dr. Rajni Kant — widely known as the “GI Man of India” — on how digital commerce can create sustainable opportunities for artisans and traditional enterprises.
Padma Shri Dr. Rajni Kant, Founder, Human Welfare Association, said:
“Initiatives like Kaarigo are crucial to the Atmanirbhar Bharat and Local to Global vision, enabling India’s artisans, weavers and producers to access broader markets and connect with consumers beyond their regions. By supporting the craft community in embracing new designs while respecting traditional techniques, such efforts foster sustainable entrepreneurship and open doors to national and global markets. Through Kaarigo, DTDC is helping take India’s traditional products to the world while preserving our rich cultural legacy for generations to come.”
DTDC-UP Government Partnership for ODOP
As an extension of this vision, DTDC has signed an MoU with the Directorate of Industries & Enterprise Promotion, Government of Uttar Pradesh, to support artisans, weavers, craftsmen, MSMEs and Self-Help Groups under the state’s One District One Product (ODOP) programme. The collaboration will provide digital commerce onboarding, cataloguing support, market linkages and integrated logistics.
A pilot component — “Phygital Market Access” — will blend digital and physical commerce through curated showcases at DTDC retail touchpoints in Lucknow, Gorakhpur and Varanasi. The model may later expand across DTDC’s wider retail and partner network.
The collaboration will also focus on digital readiness through awareness drives, training programmes, and capacity-building in e-commerce, digital marketing, product cataloguing, marketplace operations and logistics management.
Mr. Subhasish Chakraborty, Chairman & Managing Director, DTDC, stated:
“India’s economic strength lies in its local enterprises, artisans and communities — but to realize their full potential, they need access to markets beyond their immediate geography. Kaarigo bridges that gap by combining technology, e-commerce and our logistics reach. We want to make it easier for small businesses and artisans to take their products to customers across the country and, eventually, the world. From local enterprise to national opportunity, Kaarigo helps overcome geographic limitations and builds pathways to sustainable growth.”
Mr. Abhishek Chakraborty, CEO, DTDC Express Limited, added:
“Kaarigo is founded on a simple belief: a business’s size shouldn’t limit its opportunities. We’re bringing DTDC’s logistics expertise into the digital commerce journey to help local sellers find customers, grow their businesses and scale beyond local markets. Our ODOP collaboration extends this vision deeper into India’s artisan and small-business ecosystem.”
For DTDC, Kaarigo expands its role from moving goods to enabling businesses to move into new markets. By integrating digital access, seller support and logistics, the platform aims to create an inclusive pathway for India’s grassroots entrepreneurs to participate in the country’s rapidly growing digital economy.