🧩 MSMEs: Powering India’s Growth – A Deep Dive into the Businessline Conclave 2025

🌱 Introduction: The Unsung Backbone of India’s Economy

Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) are the silent warriors of India’s economy. Often operating behind the scenes, these enterprises contribute significantly to GDP, employment generation, and innovation. Recognizing this, The Hindu Businessline hosted the 4th Annual MSME Growth Conclave, celebrating the tireless efforts of these enterprises. Held across Bengaluru (June 25) and Coimbatore (June 27), the event aimed to highlight the pivotal role MSMEs play in India's economic narrative.

🏛️ The Conclave at a Glance

📍 Location & Dates

• Bengaluru – June 25

• Coimbatore – June 27

The two-day event was not just a discussion but a convergence of ideas, policymakers, industry leaders, and changemakers.

🧠 Key Themes and Sessions

1. Panel: “MSMEs – Call to Arms (Supplying to Defence)”

A powerful theme aimed at exploring how Indian MSMEs can strengthen the nation's defence manufacturing sector.

🔹 Panelists:

• Navneet Singh, CEO, Kepler Aero

• Priyanka Singhal, Founder, CEO, Ammunic Systems

• Elena Geo, Commander LSS Naidu (Retd.), COO, C2C Advanced Technologies

• Lt. Col. Velan (Retd.)

🔍 Insights:

• Role of MSMEs in indigenization of defence production.

• How simplification of procurement policies can help MSMEs.

• Success stories of small enterprises supplying to India’s armed forces.

2. Panel: “MSMEs – Powering Make in India”

This session emphasized the contributions of MSMEs to the “Make in India” initiative, which aims to boost domestic manufacturing and reduce reliance on imports.

🔹 Panelists:

• Rajeev Kaul, MD, Aequs Ltd.

• Vijay Peri, Vice President, Zetwork Manufacturing

• Digbijoy Nath, Co-founder, Agnit

• Sumeet Patil, Head of Operations, Ethereal Machines

📌 Moderated by: M. Ramesh, Consulting Editor, The Hindu Businessline

🔍 Insights:

• Innovation as a differentiator for Indian MSMEs.

• Digital transformation to scale up manufacturing.

• Skilling workforce to support future-ready industries.

3. Fireside Chat: The Human Side of Entrepreneurship

The conclave also featured a warm and inspiring fireside chat between Srinivasagopalan Rangarajan, Chairman, Data Patterns (India) Ltd., and Raghavan Srinivasan, Editor, The Hindu Businessline.

🗨️ Key Takeaway: “Behind every MSME, there is a dream, a struggle, and an undying spirit to serve and succeed.”

🌿 MSME Day: A Global Celebration

Did you know? MSME Day is celebrated every year on June 27. It’s a day dedicated to appreciating and advocating for MSMEs globally. In India, the relevance is even more profound.

📊 Quick Stats:

• 6.3 crore MSMEs in India.

• They provide employment to over 11 crore people.

• MSMEs contribute around 30% to India’s GDP.

🏛️ Special Guests and Government Participation

🎙️ Chief Guest:

• Priyank Kharge, Minister for Rural Development and Panchayat Raj, IT and BT, Government of Karnataka.

🎙️ Guest of Honour:

• Ananth Narayanan, Founder & CEO, Mensa Brands.

Their presence underscored the government's strong support for MSMEs as a crucial engine of India’s development.

🤝 Collaborations That Empower

The conclave was brought together in collaboration with:

• NITTE (Deemed-to-be-University)

• NABARD

• Canara Bank

• Karnataka Soaps and Detergents Ltd

• SVVM Institutions

• Tally

• Mysore Sales International Ltd

• Karnataka Udyog Mitra

• FICCI Karnataka

These partnerships reflect a vibrant ecosystem of academia, industry, and governance working hand-in-hand.

📺 Going Digital: Live Stream for All

To ensure inclusivity and widespread access, the event was live-streamed for free. This move helped extend the reach to remote MSME operators, students, and aspiring entrepreneurs.

🔗 Stream Link: https://thbl.news/BLMSME

💬 Voices from the Ground: MSME Owners Speak

“I started my solar component startup from my garage. Listening to industry leaders today gives me hope that we too can make a national impact.”
— Meena Rao, MSME Owner, Hubli

“For us in the food processing industry, these platforms are not just motivational—they give us the network we need to scale.”
— Yusuf Pathan, Founder, OrganicKitchen MSME, Coimbatore

🚀 Looking Ahead: The Future of MSMEs

• Focus on digitization and fintech access.

• Promotion of green and sustainable MSME models.

• Greater access to defence procurement platforms.

• Building MSME clusters and innovation hubs.

📘 UPSC Based MCQs 

1. What is the significance of June 27 in India?

A. National Startup Day
B. MSME Day ✅
C. Make in India Day
D. Entrepreneurship Day

2. Who was the chief guest at the Bengaluru MSME Conclave 2025?

A. Priyanka Singhal
B. Priyank Kharge ✅
C. Rajeev Kaul
D. Ananth Narayanan

3. Which of the following sectors did the panel "Call to Arms" focus on?

A. Agriculture
B. Textiles
C. Defence ✅
D. Electronics

4. Which of these statements about MSMEs in India is correct?

A. MSMEs employ less than 5 crore people
B. MSMEs contribute more than 50% of India’s GDP
C. There are around 6.3 crore MSMEs in India ✅
D. MSMEs are limited to urban areas

5. What was the role of M. Ramesh in the conclave?

A. Fireside chat participant
B. Guest of Honour
C. Session Moderator ✅
D. Panelist on Defence

🧾 Conclusion: Celebrating the Spirit of Enterprise

The MSME Growth Conclave 2025 was not just an event—it was a celebration of dreams, resilience, and India’s growth potential. As we move towards a trillion-dollar economy, MSMEs will continue to be the force that binds grassroots innovation with global ambition.