India SME Forum hosts 6th
annual conference supported by Ministry of MSME
India
SME Forum and the NITI Aayog launched A Million Women Arise today,
a joint initiative aimed at empowering women entrepreneurs across India. The
initiative was unveiled during India SME Forum’s 6th annual conference MSMEs In
Viksit Bharat: Fueling The Growth Engine held today.
The high-impact event
brought together industry leaders, policymakers, entrepreneurs, and experts to
deliberate on the evolving role of MSMEs in India’s economic growth trajectory
and also highlighted the role of e-commerce players like Amazon in enabling the
growth of MSMEs. The conference featured a series of insightful panel discussions
addressing key themes, including women-led entrepreneurship, export expansion,
sustainability, and digital finance.
Commenting on the launch of
the program, Ankita Pandey, Director,
Ministry of MSME, said, "Women-owned enterprises make up 35% of India’s
6 crore registered MSMEs, yet they face unique challenges, including gender
bias and limited access to markets. The Ministry of MSME is committed to
addressing these gaps through initiatives that enhance formalization,
mentorship, capacity-building, and e-commerce integration. Platforms like India
SME Forum play a crucial role in breaking these barriers, and we are proud to
support A Million Women Arise initiative in collaboration with NITI Aayog to
empower women entrepreneurs at scale."
Anna
Roy, Principal Economic Advisor, NITI Aayog & Mission Director, WEP
emphasized, “The Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP) is a public-private
partnership, bringing together key ministries, including MSME, to support women
entrepreneurs. By integrating existing programs, we aim to create a cohesive
support system through access to finance, markets, compliance support,
skilling, mentorship, and networking. Collaboration is key, and we are excited
to partner with the India SME Forum on the A Million Women Arise program to
accelerate impact. As the Hon'ble Prime Minister emphasized, industry support
is essential in empowering women entrepreneurs, and we look forward to working
together to make this vision a reality.”
Vinod
Kumar, President India SME Forum added, “MSMEs are the
backbone of India’s economy, and their growth is pivotal for Viksit Bharat. By
embracing digital finance, sustainability, and global trade, MSMEs can enhance
their competitiveness and expand their reach. Through this collaboration with
NITI Aayog, we aim to extend WEP’s initiatives to millions of aspiring women
entrepreneurs, providing them with the knowledge and support needed to build
successful businesses. Imagine the economic transformation if even 5% of
India’s women became entrepreneurs – that is the vision we are working
towards.”
In addition, India SME Forum also formalized a strategic
partnership with IndiGo, India’s leading airline, through the signing of a
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the event. This collaboration marks a
pivotal step in providing MSMEs with improved travel solutions, reinforcing
their growth and mobility. The partnership will offer the Forum members
exclusive travel benefits, customized allowances, and seamless connectivity to
support their business expansion. Through this initiative, IndiGo will
introduce tailored travel solutions that will enhance accessibility, reduce
costs, and foster growth opportunities for SMEs across India.
The panel on Waking up the
Silent Giant – Empowering Women Through Entrepreneurship, focused on unlocking
economic opportunities for women entrepreneurs through capacity building,
financial access, and digital inclusion. Panelists from Green Artha, Ministry
of MSME, ICRIER, and Instagram (Meta) emphasized the importance of
gender-inclusive policies.
The session on Expanding
Horizons: The Future of Indian Exports explored strategies for MSMEs to tap
into global markets. Experts from DGFT, Google, Amazon, and the Department of
Posts discussed leveraging trade agreements, digital commerce, and cross-border
partnerships to drive export-led growth.
The panel on Ecosystem
& Enablers for Sustainable Competitiveness of MSMEs focused on reducing
compliance burdens, adopting sustainability standards, and securing green
certifications to enhance business resilience. Experts from the Ministry of
MSME, Deloitte, Policy Consensus Centre, and Competition Advisory Services
shared their insights.
With digital finance
reshaping MSME accessibility to capital, the discussion on Revolutionizing MSME
Finance highlighted how online lending platforms, digital banking, and mobile
payment solutions are transforming financial inclusion for small businesses.
Speakers from Axis Bank, Mynd Solutions, the Ministry of MSME, and TreDs
emphasized the need for innovative financing solutions.
The conference provided a
dynamic platform for knowledge-sharing and strategic collaboration. By
addressing critical areas such as women’s entrepreneurship, export expansion,
sustainability, and digital finance, the event reaffirmed the commitment to
fostering innovation and sustainable economic growth in the MSME sector.
