A Report on Regional MSME Summit 2024

The Institute of Directors, Hyderabad Region organised the Regional MSME Summit 2024 at Ni-MSME Auditorium, Hyderabad. The theme of the event was 'Fostering Innovation and Growth – A Guide for MSME Ecosystem'. The summit focused on strategies and initiatives to foster innovation and sustainable growth within the MSME sector.

The summit provided valuable insights and expert knowledge to start-ups, MSMEs, and budding entrepreneurs, guiding them on how to grow, improve, and innovate their businesses. It highlighted the evolution of digital transformation and its role in helping MSMEs achieve their goals more effectively and enhance productivity. Success stories and case studies enriched the information shared by the distinguished speakers. The summit successfully conveyed ideologies related to the MSME process, challenges, financial assistance, digitalization, and various schemes initiated by the Government of Telangana and the Government of India to empower MSMEs

Plenary Session I: Opening Session

The 'Welcome Address' was delivered by:

Dr. Sameer Sharma (PhD, D. Litt), IAS (Retd.)
Honorary Chairman - Institute of Directors, Hyderabad Region
former Chief Secretary, Andhra Pradesh and former Director General Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs

Dr. Sharma welcomed the Guest of Honour, Dr. B. V. R. Mohan Reddy, and all other distinguished speakers, members, and delegates to the conference. He set the tone of the summit by discussing the MSME business model of Tamil Nadu. He shared valuable insights into the cluster-based industrialisation model and highlighted the achievements of both small and large scale businesses in the state. Dr. Sharma also addressed the complex nature of today's global economy, requiring a heightened focus for the MSME sector's growth

This was followed by the 'President Address' delivered by

Lt. Gen. Surinder Nath, PVSM, AVSM (Retd.)
President - Institute of Directors
Ex-Chairman, Union Public Service Commission
Ex-Vice Chief of Army

Lt. Gen. Nath addressed the gathering virtually. He stated that a large number of start-ups launched and managed by young entrepreneurs have developed into large industries. He highlighted how MSME start-ups have played a pivotal role in addressing poverty and unemployment, providing crucial support to the socioeconomic fabric of the nation. He shared the contributions made by the Institute of Directors in bolstering MSMEs by providing a platform for networking and promoting business opportunities, and its continued focus in the future.

This was followed by the 'Special Address' delivered by:

1. Dr. Sunchu Glory Swarupa
Director General
National Institute for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (Ni-MSME), Hyderabad

2. Dr. Anupama Panduru
Chairwoman, IWN Telangana, Hyderabad AVP, Seneca Global IT Services Private Limited

Dr. Swarupa spoke about the National Institute for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (Ni - MSME) and its clusters. She outlined various schemes and policies of the Government of Telangana and the Government of India available for developing MSME sectors. She also highlighted the efforts taken by Ni-MSME to train budding entrepreneurs and work towards bettering MSMEs. She emphasized the need to sustainably grow microenterprises into small enterprises, and small enterprises into medium enterprises

Dr. Panduru emphasized the importance of stakeholder management for the growth of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). She said that addressing the needs and expectations of various stakeholders is vital for ensuring continuous business development. Drawing from her experiences of working closely with MSMEs, she highlighted the support available through the Indian Women Network (IWN) Telangana, which provides a platform for women entrepreneurs to connect, network, and grow their ventures. This network is instrumental in offering resources, mentorship, and opportunities for collaboration, thereby empowering women to thrive in the entrepreneurial ecosystem

The 'Guest of Honour Address' was delivered by

Dr. B. V. R. Mohan Reddy
Founder Chairman & Board Member - Cyient Limited
Chairman - Board of Governors of IIT Hyderabad and IIT Roorkee

Dr. Reddy emphasized the transformative impact of technology and AI on businesses, particularly MSMEs, and highlighted the importance of communication and networking for growth. He underscored the importance of ChatGPT and similar tools in bringing innovation to the MSME sector. He said that every business has become interdisciplinary and should connect with larger corporations to facilitate mutual support and growth. He explained the concept of Process-People-Technology (PPT) as a key factor in considering growth. He also outlined five key aspects for business' success: ambition, goal orientation, leadership, innovation, and a learning mindset. He encouraged entrepreneurs to be optimistic, innovative, and willing to take risks, and concluded by wishing them success.

Plenary Session II - Nurturing India's MSME and Start-ups: Strategies for the next decade

The Session was moderated by:

Ms. Rama Devi Kanneganti
Founder & President Association of Lady Entrepreneurs of India (ALEAP)
Chairperson - Atal Incubation Centre, ALEAP We-Hub

The Distinguished Speakers of the Panel were:

1. Mr. Meela Jayadev
President - Federation of Telangana Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FTCCI)

2. Ms. Hema Jain
President - Telangana & Andhra Pradesh Chapter India SME Forum
CEO, Crux Management Services (P) Ltd.

3. Mr. Prabhakar Kadapa
Partner & Director - Mudita Strat-Aegis Consultants Private Limited

4. Mr. Bhuwan Ranjan
Head of Customer Success & Partner Business Groups
Tally Solutions Private

The experts discussed challenges faced by MSMEs and proposed strategies to help them achieve sustainability in their businesses. They shared valuable statistics on the growth of MSMEs in India and their significant contribution to the country's economy on the global stage. Additionally, they explored the evolution of technology and its potential to enhance business efficiency and productivity. The panel also encouraged women to pursue entrepreneurship, leveraging expert guidance to start and grow their businesses. They also offered organisational support for nurturing MSMEs and start-ups.

This was followed by an interactive Q&A Session with the audience.

Session III - The Future of MSME Finance

The Session was chaired by:

Ms. Uma Shanmukhi Sistla
Independent Director on Multiple Boards

The Distinguished Speakers of the Panel were:

1. Ms. G. Buvaneswari
Deputy General Manager (SME)
State Bank of India, Local Head Office, Hyderabad

2. Mr. Pruthvi Suranna
Additional General Manager SIDBI - Branch Office, Hyderabad

3. Mr. K. Satyanarayana
Additional General Manager & Regional Head
Dhanlaxmi Bank Limited,

The panel discussed in detail the funding and schemes offered by banks to support entrepreneurs in starting their businesses. They explained how start-ups and MSMEs can access financial support, get access to capital through banks, and also discussed the processes required for different business models. They also highlighted various innovative financial solutions available through public and private banks, emphasizing how technology has made these services more user-friendly, accessible, and timeefficient. Every major bank has dedicated support for MSMEs, and the panel encouraged entrepreneurs to approach them for documentation and financial assistance required for their businesses.

The panel also discussed the financial assistance provided by the government through banks for vendors, suppliers, small businesses, and start-ups. They elaborated on the cluster-wise financial support and concessions available in the Telangana region and explained the ways of utilizing these benefits. They addressed the challenges MSMEs face in obtaining financial assistance and guided entrepreneurs to the right gateways to bridge these gaps

Fintech companies and blockchain technologies have improved the connection between MSMEs and banks. There are now opportunities for crowdfunding, community funding, and revenue-based sharing in the market. Banks also use LGMS (Lead Generation and Management System) to monitor the process and ensure timely assistance to the end customer. The panel shared some success stories from their respective organisations and concluded by stating that digitalization has made access to financial assistance closer, quicker, and more accessible.

This was followed by the 'Vote of Thanks' proposed by Ms. Karuna Grover, Officiating Regional Manager, Institute of Directors, Hyderabad Region. She thanked the Guest of Honour, Dr. B. V. R. Mohan Reddy, and the special guests, Dr. Sunchu Glory Swarupa and Dr. Anupama Panduru, for sharing their valuable insights. She also thanked the Distinguished Speakers and delegates for their valuable time, in spite of the rough weather and busy schedules. Special thanks were extended to the event partners and supporters for their support in making the event a resounding success. She also thanked the venue partners, Ni-MSME for the excellent arrangements.

IOD is especially grateful to its Partners and Supporters:

Our Silver Partner: Tally Solutions Private Limited

Our Supporting Partners:
1. State Bank of India (SBI) 2. IDBI Bank Limited 3. Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI)

This report is compiled by:

Ms. Karuna Grover
Officiating Regional Manager
Institute of Directors - Hyderabad Region