Flipkart, Amazon's biggest rival, recently raised nearly $600 million in new funding from parent company Walmart and another investor.
 "E-commerce company Amazon injects Rs 1.6 billion to expand India operations")
Perzada Abrar Bangalore
E-commerce company Amazon has injected Rs 1.6 billion into its India unit Amazon Seller Services, according to a regulatory filing. This funding comes at a time when the company is making meaningful progress in emerging regions, including India, as it expands its product offerings and capabilities and continues to move toward profitability.
The regulatory filing is dated April 15. This is the second time in the last five months that Amazon has invested money in its Indian arm, Amazon Seller Services. Prior to this, Amazon has already injected more than Rs 1,000 crore into its Indian operations this year. In February, the company's marketplace entity received Rs 830 million. In January, Amazon invested Rs 350 million in an entity that operates its fintech arm Amazon Pay.
Click here to follow our WhatsApp channel
Flipkart, Amazon's biggest rival, recently raised nearly $600 million in new funding from parent company Walmart and another investor. Industry sources have revealed that Flipkart is in talks with investors to raise a total of about $1 billion. The company plans to deploy capital to expand its infrastructure, seller support ecosystem, and cutting-edge technology.
SoftBank-backed Meesho recently completed a $275 million funding round that included the sale of primary and secondary shares. This is part of a larger $600 million funding round that the company plans to raise.
As part of its strategy to tap deeper into the market, Amazon recently introduced Bazaar stores in India, specializing in low-priced, unbranded fashion and lifestyle products. Amazon's goal is to cater to a specific group of customers who prioritize affordability over brand name. This strategy could pose a challenge for Meesho, which is known for offering affordable consumer goods sourced from local retailers.
Amazon CEO Andy Jassy said in a letter to shareholders in 2023 that the company will continue to expand its assortment and capabilities, including in India, as it moves toward increased profitability. He said meaningful progress is being made in emerging regions.
Amazon is ramping up its investment in India, committing an additional $15 billion to the country over the next seven years. This brings Amazon's total investment in India to $26 billion. The announcement was made last year when Amazon CEO Andy Jassy met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the United States. This investment includes the $12.7 billion Amazon Web Services (AWS) announced it will invest in India by 2030.
