An initiative to empower India’s vast retail trade ecosystem by bridging last-mile financial access gaps through a phygital platform

The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), in partnership with Shriram Finance Limited—one of the country’s most reputed financial groups—today launched a dedicated fintech portal aimed at enhancing seamless access to credit for traders, MSMEs, startups, and women entrepreneurs across India. The portal has been developed in alignment with Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision of expanding financial access to grassroots entrepreneurs.

The portal was formally launched by Member of Parliament and CAIT Secretary General Shri Praveen Khandelwal, along with Shri G. M. Jilani, Joint Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer of Shriram Finance Limited, at a grand समारोह held at Constitution Club, New Delhi. The event witnessed the participation of a large number of prominent trader leaders from Delhi.

Exclusively designed for CAIT members and the trading community, the portal integrates CAIT’s extensive digital outreach with Shriram Finance’s robust credit distribution system. This synergy will enable traders to access a wide range of financial products with greater ease and efficiency, thereby significantly enhancing financial inclusion and formal credit penetration in India’s retail trade sector.

The fintech platform offers a diverse range of financial products, including MSME loans (secured and unsecured), personal loans, gold loans, two-wheeler loans, and commercial vehicle financing. Built on a phygital model, the platform allows traders to apply for loans digitally, while the final processing and disbursement are carried out through Shriram Finance’s extensive branch network based on pincode-level servicing.

This hybrid model ensures speed, accessibility, and personalized assistance, effectively bridging the gap between digital convenience and on-ground support.

On this occasion, Shri Praveen Khandelwal said, “Traders are the backbone of India’s economy, yet access to timely and affordable credit has remained a significant challenge. This fintech portal marks an important step toward financial empowerment of the trading community. By combining CAIT’s vast network with Shriram Finance’s strong lending capabilities, we are enabling traders to access formal finance in a simple, transparent, and efficient manner. This initiative aligns with Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision of empowering MSMEs and promoting financial inclusion through digital platforms.”

Shri G. M. Jilani, Joint Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer of Shriram Finance Limited, stated, “This partnership reflects our commitment to expanding credit access through trusted networks. Traders and small businesses are at the heart of India’s growth journey. By leveraging CAIT’s strong grassroots presence, we are extending our financial solutions to areas where they are needed the most. Our phygital model ensures that while access begins digitally, our branch network provides strong on-ground support throughout the customer journey.”

The launch comes at a time when traders and small businesses continue to face challenges in accessing formal credit. By combining CAIT’s nationwide network with Shriram Finance’s expertise and infrastructure, this platform aims to remove barriers, simplify credit access, and strengthen India’s retail economy.