Meta, in partnership with the Ministry of MSME and the India SME Forum, has announced the launch of an AI-powered chatbot designed to support small businesses across India. The tool, powered by Meta’s Llama model and integrated into WhatsApp, will offer real-time guidance on government schemes, compliance, digital onboarding, credit access and skilling helping MSMEs adopt digital tools more easily.
For Kolkata’s vibrant small business ecosystem spanning Burrabazar traders, Salt Lake tech start-ups and city-based manufacturing units the chatbot promises quicker access to reliable information in multiple Indian languages. Entrepreneurs will be able to access support via text and voice, making navigation of the digital economy simpler and more inclusive.
The India SME Forum also celebrated one year of its DigiShaastra initiative, which has reached more than 476,000 small businesses nationwide. Officials from the MSME Ministry highlighted the importance of digital readiness, noting ongoing reforms in compliance and data protection to strengthen the sector. Meta and WhatsApp leaders said the partnership reflects their commitment to delivering accessible AI tools for entrepreneurs and accelerating digital growth across India.
