The e-commerce giant, Flipkart would create 70,000 new jobs and also the employee many more as delivery partners and in other roles as it prepares for the festive season.

Both Flipkart, Amazon.com Inc’s Indian unit and Reliance Industries Ltd’s fledgeling online shopping platform are vying for a share of the booming online retail market. This is receiving a big boost from the COVID-19 pandemic as more Indians used their smartphones for shopping for groceries and other items.

The Big Billion Days in Flipkart styled on the line of Amazon’s Prime Day rakes in its most significant sales for the year. Usually, the sales start around October to tap India’s festive season which ends with Diwali. The company said it would also sign up more than 50,000 Kiranas, or small grocery stores, for last-mile delivery.

‘While creating direct job opportunities across Flipkart’s supply chain, that include delivery executives, pickers, packers and sorters, there will also be additional indirect jobs created at Flipkart’s seller partner locations and (local corner stores),’ the company said in an emailed statement.

The e-commerce company launched an online wholesale service, Flipkart Wholesale, for mom-and-pop stores and other small businesses, earlier to this month.