Ahmedabad (Gujarat): Ruling the roost at the second position after Maharashtra in the Western region, the direct selling business in Gujarat has crossed Rs 1,000 crore, registering a growth of nearly 10% in the year 2022–23, the Indian Direct Selling Association (IDSA) shared in a survey report to the media here on Thursday.

The report, prepared by the KANTAR, signifying the industry’s core strength in creating self-employment, skill development opportunities, and socio-economic growth at the grass-roots levels, reflects that the state clocked a business turnover of Rs 1,014 crore during the period, Rs 91 crore above the 2021–22 fiscal, registering a robust 9.86% growth. 

The state, which continued to be the ninth-top direct-selling market in the country, provided self-employment to over 2.1 lakh microentrepreneurs, with over 77,000 of them being women. The industry, which makes a significant contribution of over Rs 150 crore to the state exchequer through taxes, also has over 4.8 percent share on overall national sales, which stood at over Rs 21,282 crore in 2022–23, the IDSA shared. 

In his address, Kunvarjibhai Mohanbhai Bavaliya, Minister for Food, Civil Supply, and Consumer Protection Affairs, said that while creating a conducive business environment for the direct selling industry, the state is committed to safeguarding the interests of consumers. Underscoring the need to ensure the quality of the products for consumers, he offered all the help to the industry from his department, which is also working on constituting a monitoring Mechanism as envisaged in the Consumer Protection (Direct Selling) Rules 2021. He also felicitated 12 women entrepreneurs on the occasion who have excelled in the field of direct selling with respective companies in the state. 

Vivek Katoch, Chairman, of IDSA, said, “Gujarat continues to be among the key and priority markets for the direct selling industry. The growth figures reflect that the direct selling industry in the state is poised for new horizons, reaffirming the relentless hard work of direct sellers.”

“The industry has provided sustainable self-employment and micro-entrepreneurship opportunities for nearly 86 lakh Indians and has demonstrated consistent and sustained growth with a CAGR of over eight percent during the last four years. The 19 member companies of IDSA can confidently lay claim to successfully protecting consumer interests as well as those of over 2.1 lakh direct sellers in the state,” adds Katoch.

He said the “Union Ministry of Consumer Affairs, through the Consumer Protection (Direct Selling) Rules 2021, has brought regulatory clarity to the operations of the direct selling entities and to protect consumers. So far, ten states have established monitoring committees by the Rules’ provisions. I trust that other states, including Gujarat, will also accomplish the task soon.”