Abhirup Roy

Amazon and Indian investment firm to help small businesses get online

Amazon.com’s Asia unit will provide back-end support in a venture with an Indian private investment firm formed by Infosys co-founder NR Narayana Murthy that aims to help get Indian companies online.

Catamaran Ventures' partnership with Amazon Asia will target small- and medium-sized firms, Arjun Ramegowda Narayanswamy, who heads the private investment company, said.

Access to mobile devices and better-quality broadband has boosted India's online shopping scene, where Amazon is jostling with home-grown companies like Flipkart and Snapdeal for market share.

An official from Amazon's India unit, who did not want to be identified as details of the deal are not public, told Reuters Amazon will support the venture with logistics and technology know-how. The venture, which is already operational, is expected to help offline sellers and small and medium businesses in India to supply to a fast-growing set of online customers in the country, he said.