Utkal Chamber Hosts GeM Awareness Drive for Vendors

The Utkal Chamber of Commerce & Industry Ltd. (UCCIL) and the Government of India's E-GeM cell recently held a specialized workshop in Bhubaneswar to promote the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) portal. The December 8, 2025, event focused on educating local vendors about utilizing the platform for conducting business with government entities.

Platform’s Mandate and Capabilities

Dr. Prabodh Mohanty, UCCIL President, initiated the program by explaining GeM's role. He highlighted that the portal streamlines the online buying of routine products and services needed by diverse government organizations and public sector undertakings. The platform’s fundamental goals are enhancing speed, increasing efficiency, and ensuring greater transparency in all public purchases. GeM also incorporates advanced functionalities like e-bidding, reverse e-auctions, and demand aggregation to guarantee government users receive optimal value.

Government Commitment to Outreach

Shri Satyanarayana Meena, IRSSE, Additional CEO of E-GeM, was present as the Chief Guest. In his address, he motivated attendees to actively engage with the robust digital system the Government is making available to all enterprises and individuals. Shri Meena pledged ongoing collaboration between his department and UCCIL. This partnership will involve conducting targeted awareness campaigns for unregistered vendors and providing necessary support for their enrollment on the GeM portal. He further committed to sharing a feedback mechanism with UCCIL members to specifically address their concerns and streamline future focused programs.

A panel of experts from Odisha and Delhi, including Shri Anshuman Patnaik, Joint Director GeM, Odisha, and Shri Anand Kishore Mishra, Consultant Training and Development, joined the event. Shri Mishra delivered an in-depth presentation detailing the portal's operational procedures and its utility in simplifying business processes. The session successfully addressed Odisha-specific GeM challenges and boosted awareness among UCCIL members.

Concluding the event, Dr. Sanjeev Mahapatra, Honorary Secretary, UCCIL, delivered the vote of thanks. He summarized the technical discussions and affirmed that the Government e-Marketplace represents the future of public procurement, making interaction with the Government transparent, easy, and industry-centric.

• Jointly organized by UCCIL and E-GeM, the workshop focused on increasing vendor awareness of the Government e-Marketplace portal.
• GeM’s core functions are to facilitate transparent and efficient online procurement of common goods and services by government entities.
• E-GeM leadership committed to continuous partnership with UCCIL, conducting focused registration and awareness drives for unregistered enterprises.

The interactive session featured a detailed presentation on GeM's operations and successfully addressed Odisha-centric vendor issues.