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President Message
The two-decade long wait is over. India and EU have agreed on ‘Mother of all deals’: India-EU FTA. The emerging details make it clear that it is not just a trade deal but a deep strategic agreement encompassing Trade, Defence and Technology among 2 billion people. The most important feature about the deal is inherent complementarity between the partners which creates a win-win for all. India wants to export textiles and garments, leather, auto and machine components whereas it needs technology, machines, Defence gear and capital. India has also an emerging segment which is potential buyer to luxury goods from wines to higher end cars to high fashion items produced by Europe. A well-designed FTA significantly improves market access through lower tariffs, smoother customs procedures, and clearer regulatory pathways. Equally important are the non-tariff dimensions: standards, sustainability norms, digital trade, IPR and supply-chain transparency. These will require Indian MSMEs to upgrade processes, improve compliance, and invest in quality and certification. With the right domestic support ecosystem—on technology upgradation, finance, skilling and market intelligence—Indian MSMEs can turn these challenges into long-term competitive advantages. FISME welcomes this development and views the India–EU FTA as a chance to integrate Indian MSMEs more deeply into global value chains, diversify export destinations, and reduce over-dependence on a few markets. As negotiations progress, it is vital that MSME interests—especially around rules of origin, conformity assessment, data requirements and dispute resolution—remain central to the final outcome. FISME will continue to engage with policymakers and stakeholders to ensure that the emerging India–EU trade architecture is inclusive, balanced and growth-oriented for India’s MSME sector.
FISME organized an online discussion on the India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) to examine its impact on MSMEs on 29 Jan 2026, highlight key sectors likely to benefit, and outline the roadmap ahead. The session featured insights from experts Ajay Srivastava (Former Trade Negotiator), Dr. Sangeeta Khorana (Aston University, UK), and Dr. Sangeeta Godbole (Former Trade Negotiator), who discussed strategic opportunities, policy implications, and practical steps for MSMEs to leverage the agreement. The discussion emphasized the importance of preparedness, capacity building, and collaborative approaches to help MSMEs access European markets effectively.
FISME Secretary General Mr. Anil Bhardwaj participated as a panelist in the session titled “The American Dream and Indian Wings,” held on 25 January 2026, at the 4th ILA Annual Conference. The session explored the influence of insolvency and personal bankruptcy frameworks on entrepreneurial risk-taking, economic mobility, and societal perceptions of failure.
The session featured an esteemed panel comprising SG FISME; Prof. Rebecca Parry, Co-Director, Centre for Business and Insolvency Law, Nottingham Law School, Nottingham Trent University, United Kingdom; Dr. Jason Kilborn, Professor of Law, University of Illinois, Chicago, USA (virtual); Mr. David Grant, Partner, Troutman Pepper Locke, United Kingdom; and Mr. Debanshu Mukherjee, Co-Founder, Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy, India. The session was moderated by Mr. Sumant Batra, President, Insolvency Law Academy.
FISME, in partnership with South Korea’s SME promotion agency (KOSME) and the Korean SMEs Association in India (KOSMA), unveiled a structured three-point Korea–India SME engagement programme for 2026 to deepen bilateral cooperation between Indian and Korean SMEs. The roadmap focuses on technology collaboration, market entry, and joint manufacturing to facilitate the expansion of Korean SMEs into India while strengthening bilateral SME partnerships.
The “2026 Workshop: Strategies & Collaboration for Korea–India SMEs” was held at the Global Business Center (GBC) on 21 January 2026, bringing together senior officials and leaders from KOSME, KOSMA, and FISME.
Key participants included LEE Jae Kyeong, Director, KOSME New Delhi GBC; Sandeep Kishore Jain, President, FISME; Park S. H., Chairman, KOSMA; and other office bearers from SME bodies and enterprises in both countries.
The Centre of Excellence for Aspiring SMEs (CoEAS) delivered a presentation at the “Awareness Session on SME IPO and Equity Funding”, convened by IamSMEofIndia in collaboration with SIDBI on 16 January 2026 in Faridabad.CoEAS is a joint initiative of FISME and IFCI Ltd., established to provide hands-on support and strategic services to SMEs, focuses particularly on improving SMEs’ access to capital, partnerships, and global opportunities.
The session focused on enhancing MSMEs’ understanding of external equity and structured financing options, with special emphasis on SME IPOs, and included deliberations by Shri Suresh Kumar Rai, DGM, SIDBI; Shri Sumit Saxena, AVP, BSE; Shri Rajiv K. Chawla; and Ms. Neeta Prasad, Head – Strategy & Outreach, CoEAS.
FISME Secretary General Anil Bhardwaj represented FISME at the Pan-India Horizontal Audit on Ease of Doing Business for MSMEs organised by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India on 29 January 2026. He highlighted that India’s MSME challenge lies not in entrepreneurship but in survival and scale, citing systemic barriers beyond registration. His submission emphasised compliance burden, infrastructure gaps, regulatory predictability, finance behaviour, business exit reforms, and the need for AI-driven, outcome-based audits to improve MSME sustainability.
For years, Indian small and medium entrepreneurs have held one belief that drives every part of their work: the harder you work, the more you grow. I have watched a textile uni, in Surat, a kirana store in Lucknow, a beauty salon in Guwahati, and a digital service agency in Pune all follow the you work belief.
India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA), being hailed as the ‘mother of all trade deals’ was finalised on Tuesday, and after a legal framework is in place and the European Parliament passes it, the FTA will be signed. The EU as a bloc is India’s largest trading partner, while the US is the largest trading single country partner.
The India-EU FTA comes at a time of heightened trade uncertainty due to tariff threats by US President Donald Trump.Negotiations stretched over nearly 18 years, largely due to stretched over nearly 18 years, largely due to the European.Union’s firm stance on a range of so-called non-trade concers ....
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The Federation of Indian Micro and Small & Medium Enterprises (FISME) has welcomed the Union Budget 2026-27, specifically applauding the landmark decision to mandate the Trade Receivables Discounting System (TReDS) as the transaction settlement platform for all MSME purchases by Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs).
ndia’s foreign exchange reserves rose to a fresh all-time high of USD 709.41 billion in the week ended January 23, according to data released by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
Reserves increased by USD 8.05 billion during the week, supported by a rise in both foreign currency assets and gold holdings. The previous record level of USD 704.89 billion was recorded in September 2024.Increase in Foreign Currency Assets and Gold
Foreign currency assets, the largest component of the reserves, rose by USD 2.37 billion to USD 562.89 billion. Gold reserves recorded a sharper increase, rising by USD 5.64 billion to USD 123.09 billion, contributing significantly to the overall rise in reserves.
Tabled by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday, the Economic Survey 2025–26 highlights strong momentum in India’s industrial sector during the first half of FY2025–26, with Industry Gross Value Added (GVA) growing 7.0 per cent year-on-year (YoY) in real terms, recovering from 5.9 per cent growth in FY2024–25.
Presenting her ninth consecutive Budget in the Lok Sabha, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday unveiled a series of initiatives aimed at advancing India’s climate and industrial transition. Aligning with the Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) roadmap launched in December 2025, the Union Budget 2026–27 proposes scaling up CCUS technologies across key industrial sectors.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday announced a series of reforms in customs aimed at simplifying tariffs while presenting the Union Budget 2026–27 in the Lok Sabha.
As part of the government’s effort to rationalise the customs duty structure, the Finance Minister announced the removal of long-standing customs duty exemptions on items that are either manufactured domestically or have negligible imports.
Indian micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the steel sector are reporting shipment seizures, order cancellations and rising compliance burdens since the European Union’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) entered its payment phase on January 1, 2026. CBAM, a carbon levy on imports of high-emission goods such as steel, cement and aluminium, requires carbon reporting and payment for imports exceeding 50 tonnes per year. India was unable to secure any concession on CBAM in its free trade agreement with the EU signed on January 27, reported Business Standard.
The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) on Thursday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the World Economic Forum (WEF) to strengthen cooperation in skill development and technical and vocational education and training (TVET).The agreement aims to align India’s skilling ecosystem more closely with industry needs and global labour market trends.
Under the MoU, MSDE and WEF will launch a Skills Accelerator in India — a multistakeholder platform to identify, scale and fast-track innovative solutions and public–private partnerships to address key workforce skill gaps.
The Delhi government has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises (CGTMSE) to provide collateral-free loans of up to Rs 10 crore to new and existing micro and small enterprises (MSEs).Under the Delhi Credit Guarantee Scheme, the loan guarantee will be jointly shared by the Delhi government and CGTMSE. CGTMSE will provide a guarantee cover of 75–90 per cent of the loan amount, while the remaining portion will be backed by the Delhi government.
The Union Government has rolled out port infrastructure and digital governance projects worth Rs 235 crore at Chennai Port Authority and Kamarajar Port Limited, reinforcing Tamil Nadu’s role in India’s maritime-led growth strategy. Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurated and laid foundation stones for the projects during the “Viksit Bharat, Viksit Ports” programme in Chennai. Of the total outlay, Rs 129.36 crore has been allocated for projects at Chennai Port Authority, while Rs 105.64 crore pertains to initiatives at Kamarajar Port.
Smaller firms planning to close down their business want states to allow transfer of property among its shareholders by paying Rs 5,000 stamp duty on the lines of Uttar Pradesh (UP) government's recent decision to allow intra-family transfer of commercial and industrial properties through gift deeds of upto Rs 5,000. In a major relief to small businesses in UP, the government recently allowed the transfer of commercial and industrial properties among family members through gift deeds of a maximum value of Rs 5,000. The move was an extension of the benefit given to agricultural and residential properties.
The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) has disbursed Rs 17 lakh to the Biodiversity Management Committee (BMC) of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), Maharashtra, under the Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) framework. The amount was released through the Maharashtra State Biodiversity Board as part of the NBA’s mandate to ensure sustainable use of biological resources and equitable sharing of benefits arising from their commercial utilisation.
India and the 27-member European Union (EU) have concluded negotiations for the much-awaited Free Trade Agreement (FTA) even as a similar deal with the United States of America (US) remains elusive.
India and Germany have signed a Joint Declaration of Intent (JDI) on Telecommunications Cooperation, formalising a framework to deepen bilateral collaboration in the telecommunications and information and communication technologies (ICT) sectors.The agreement was concluded during the official visit of German Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz to India from 12–13 January 2026.
The JDI was signed by Amit Agrawal, Secretary (Telecom), on behalf of the Government of India, and by Philipp Ackermann, German Ambassador to India, representing the Government of Germany.
According to the FISME factor, 100% of MSMEs identified infrastructure development to support business growth as their key expectation from Budget 2026
Automation and people: Striking the right balance in digital transformation
Manufacturing is undergoing a profound transformation. Across industries, automation, robotics, and digital technologies are redefining how factories operate and how value is delivered to customers. In the packaging and processing sectors, this shift is particularly visible as companies strive for greater efficiency, higher quality, and faster response times.
How To Diversify Financially As A Small Business Owner
Statistics show 80% of business owners have the majority of their wealth tied up in their business. Diversification poses a real challenge for the small business owner. The reality is, the average entrepreneur has far too much of their wealth tied up in the business, which poses a great risk financially. Although total diversification is likely improbable and unrealistic for an active entrepreneur, there are ways to reduce your concentration. Here are three financial diversification strategies for the small business owner.
Why brands need marketing more than ever in 2026: Turning visibility into growth and loyalty
Over the past decades, brands could hinge on reach and visibility as reliable drivers of growth. The logic was clear: be seen often enough, stay top of mind, and commercial results would follow in due time. In 2026, this notion no longer holds true. Visibility is not a competitive advantage anymore; conversion efficiency is.
Additionally, digital reach has been democratised. Almost every brand now has access to scale across platforms.
QCO Forces Jaipur-Based Firm To Redraw Biz Plan, MSME Industry Body Urges Govt To Defer Order
A quality control order (QCO) intended to strengthen domestic manufacturing has derailed the business of a Jaipur-based MSME firm, prompting the industry body Federation of Indian Micro and Small & Medium Enterprises (FISME) to urge the government to defer the enforcement of contentious directive.
In Kanpur district, a small mushroom unit runs on controlled temperatures and trial
Anubhav Shukla lives in Kanpur district of Uttar Pradesh, where he runs a small, climate-controlled unit growing button mushrooms. His work relies on creating artificial temperature and humidity inside enclosed rooms, allowing mushrooms to be grown year-round rather than only in the winter season.
The unit follows a defined process—prepared compost is filled into bags, mixed with spawn, and moved into an air-conditioned chamber where the temperature is first held steady to allow the mycelium to spread.
How Nutrify Today is using AI in nutraceuticals to build transparent supply chains
After working across India, the US and China, Amit Srivastava kept running into the same challenge: the nutraceutical supply chain remained deeply fragmented.
“On one side, branded formulation companies struggle to get the right ingredients, manufacturing technologies, and regulatory inputs to launch innovative products. On the other side, there are scientists, small innovators, and niche companies doing brilliant work with no real way to break into the networks of large brands and established supply-chain players,” he tells YourStory.
The National Statistical Office (NSO), Ministry Of Statistics And Programme Implementation (Mospi) has released the Quick Estimate of Index of Industrial Production and Use-Based Index for the month of December 2025 (Base 2011-12=100).
FISME regularly receives monthly reports on the economies of various countries from their missions in India. These reports provide information on key economic parameters, trade related information and all news relevant for importers and exporters. In this edition you can take a look at reports on:
Write your comments on the FISME Factor. Share your views and suggestions on MSME issues. Win prize! The best mail will get a special book every fortnight.
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The two-decade long wait is over. India and EU have agreed on ‘Mother of all deals’: India-EU FTA. The emerging details make it clear that it is not just a trade deal but a deep strategic agreement encompassing Trade, Defence and Technology among 2 billion people. The most important feature about the deal is inherent complementarity between the partners which creates a win-win for all. India wants to export textiles and garments, leather, auto and machine components whereas it needs technology, machines, Defence gear and capital. India has also an emerging segment which is potential buyer to luxury goods from wines to higher end cars to high fashion items produced by Europe. A well-designed FTA significantly improves market access through lower tariffs, smoother customs procedures, and clearer regulatory pathways. Equally important are the non-tariff dimensions: standards, sustainability norms, digital trade, IPR and supply-chain transparency. These will require Indian MSMEs to upgrade processes, improve compliance, and invest in quality and certification. With the right domestic support ecosystem—on technology upgradation, finance, skilling and market intelligence—Indian MSMEs can turn these challenges into long-term competitive advantages. FISME welcomes this development and views the India–EU FTA as a chance to integrate Indian MSMEs more deeply into global value chains, diversify export destinations, and reduce over-dependence on a few markets. As negotiations progress, it is vital that MSME interests—especially around rules of origin, conformity assessment, data requirements and dispute resolution—remain central to the final outcome. FISME will continue to engage with policymakers and stakeholders to ensure that the emerging India–EU trade architecture is inclusive, balanced and growth-oriented for India’s MSME sector.
FISME organized an online discussion on the India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) to examine its impact on MSMEs on 29 Jan 2026, highlight key sectors likely to benefit, and outline the roadmap ahead. The session featured insights from experts Ajay Srivastava (Former Trade Negotiator), Dr. Sangeeta Khorana (Aston University, UK), and Dr. Sangeeta Godbole (Former Trade Negotiator), who discussed strategic opportunities, policy implications, and practical steps for MSMEs to leverage the agreement. The discussion emphasized the importance of preparedness, capacity building, and collaborative approaches to help MSMEs access European markets effectively.
FISME Secretary General Mr. Anil Bhardwaj participated as a panelist in the session titled “The American Dream and Indian Wings,” held on 25 January 2026, at the 4th ILA Annual Conference. The session explored the influence of insolvency and personal bankruptcy frameworks on entrepreneurial risk-taking, economic mobility, and societal perceptions of failure.
The session featured an esteemed panel comprising SG FISME; Prof. Rebecca Parry, Co-Director, Centre for Business and Insolvency Law, Nottingham Law School, Nottingham Trent University, United Kingdom; Dr. Jason Kilborn, Professor of Law, University of Illinois, Chicago, USA (virtual); Mr. David Grant, Partner, Troutman Pepper Locke, United Kingdom; and Mr. Debanshu Mukherjee, Co-Founder, Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy, India. The session was moderated by Mr. Sumant Batra, President, Insolvency Law Academy.
FISME, in partnership with South Korea’s SME promotion agency (KOSME) and the Korean SMEs Association in India (KOSMA), unveiled a structured three-point Korea–India SME engagement programme for 2026 to deepen bilateral cooperation between Indian and Korean SMEs. The roadmap focuses on technology collaboration, market entry, and joint manufacturing to facilitate the expansion of Korean SMEs into India while strengthening bilateral SME partnerships.
The “2026 Workshop: Strategies & Collaboration for Korea–India SMEs” was held at the Global Business Center (GBC) on 21 January 2026, bringing together senior officials and leaders from KOSME, KOSMA, and FISME.
Key participants included LEE Jae Kyeong, Director, KOSME New Delhi GBC; Sandeep Kishore Jain, President, FISME; Park S. H., Chairman, KOSMA; and other office bearers from SME bodies and enterprises in both countries.
The Centre of Excellence for Aspiring SMEs (CoEAS) delivered a presentation at the “Awareness Session on SME IPO and Equity Funding”, convened by IamSMEofIndia in collaboration with SIDBI on 16 January 2026 in Faridabad.CoEAS is a joint initiative of FISME and IFCI Ltd., established to provide hands-on support and strategic services to SMEs, focuses particularly on improving SMEs’ access to capital, partnerships, and global opportunities.
The session focused on enhancing MSMEs’ understanding of external equity and structured financing options, with special emphasis on SME IPOs, and included deliberations by Shri Suresh Kumar Rai, DGM, SIDBI; Shri Sumit Saxena, AVP, BSE; Shri Rajiv K. Chawla; and Ms. Neeta Prasad, Head – Strategy & Outreach, CoEAS.
FISME Secretary General Anil Bhardwaj represented FISME at the Pan-India Horizontal Audit on Ease of Doing Business for MSMEs organised by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India on 29 January 2026. He highlighted that India’s MSME challenge lies not in entrepreneurship but in survival and scale, citing systemic barriers beyond registration. His submission emphasised compliance burden, infrastructure gaps, regulatory predictability, finance behaviour, business exit reforms, and the need for AI-driven, outcome-based audits to improve MSME sustainability.
For years, Indian small and medium entrepreneurs have held one belief that drives every part of their work: the harder you work, the more you grow. I have watched a textile uni, in Surat, a kirana store in Lucknow, a beauty salon in Guwahati, and a digital service agency in Pune all follow the you work belief.
The Federation of Indian Micro and Small & Medium Enterprises (FISME) has welcomed the Union Budget 2026-27, specifically applauding the landmark decision to mandate the Trade Receivables Discounting System (TReDS) as the transaction settlement platform for all MSME purchases by Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs).
ndia’s foreign exchange reserves rose to a fresh all-time high of USD 709.41 billion in the week ended January 23, according to data released by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
Reserves increased by USD 8.05 billion during the week, supported by a rise in both foreign currency assets and gold holdings. The previous record level of USD 704.89 billion was recorded in September 2024.Increase in Foreign Currency Assets and Gold
Foreign currency assets, the largest component of the reserves, rose by USD 2.37 billion to USD 562.89 billion. Gold reserves recorded a sharper increase, rising by USD 5.64 billion to USD 123.09 billion, contributing significantly to the overall rise in reserves.
Tabled by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday, the Economic Survey 2025–26 highlights strong momentum in India’s industrial sector during the first half of FY2025–26, with Industry Gross Value Added (GVA) growing 7.0 per cent year-on-year (YoY) in real terms, recovering from 5.9 per cent growth in FY2024–25.
Presenting her ninth consecutive Budget in the Lok Sabha, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday unveiled a series of initiatives aimed at advancing India’s climate and industrial transition. Aligning with the Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) roadmap launched in December 2025, the Union Budget 2026–27 proposes scaling up CCUS technologies across key industrial sectors.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday announced a series of reforms in customs aimed at simplifying tariffs while presenting the Union Budget 2026–27 in the Lok Sabha.
As part of the government’s effort to rationalise the customs duty structure, the Finance Minister announced the removal of long-standing customs duty exemptions on items that are either manufactured domestically or have negligible imports.
Indian micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the steel sector are reporting shipment seizures, order cancellations and rising compliance burdens since the European Union’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) entered its payment phase on January 1, 2026. CBAM, a carbon levy on imports of high-emission goods such as steel, cement and aluminium, requires carbon reporting and payment for imports exceeding 50 tonnes per year. India was unable to secure any concession on CBAM in its free trade agreement with the EU signed on January 27, reported Business Standard.
The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) on Thursday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the World Economic Forum (WEF) to strengthen cooperation in skill development and technical and vocational education and training (TVET).The agreement aims to align India’s skilling ecosystem more closely with industry needs and global labour market trends.
Under the MoU, MSDE and WEF will launch a Skills Accelerator in India — a multistakeholder platform to identify, scale and fast-track innovative solutions and public–private partnerships to address key workforce skill gaps.
The Delhi government has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises (CGTMSE) to provide collateral-free loans of up to Rs 10 crore to new and existing micro and small enterprises (MSEs).Under the Delhi Credit Guarantee Scheme, the loan guarantee will be jointly shared by the Delhi government and CGTMSE. CGTMSE will provide a guarantee cover of 75–90 per cent of the loan amount, while the remaining portion will be backed by the Delhi government.
The Union Government has rolled out port infrastructure and digital governance projects worth Rs 235 crore at Chennai Port Authority and Kamarajar Port Limited, reinforcing Tamil Nadu’s role in India’s maritime-led growth strategy. Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurated and laid foundation stones for the projects during the “Viksit Bharat, Viksit Ports” programme in Chennai. Of the total outlay, Rs 129.36 crore has been allocated for projects at Chennai Port Authority, while Rs 105.64 crore pertains to initiatives at Kamarajar Port.
Smaller firms planning to close down their business want states to allow transfer of property among its shareholders by paying Rs 5,000 stamp duty on the lines of Uttar Pradesh (UP) government's recent decision to allow intra-family transfer of commercial and industrial properties through gift deeds of upto Rs 5,000. In a major relief to small businesses in UP, the government recently allowed the transfer of commercial and industrial properties among family members through gift deeds of a maximum value of Rs 5,000. The move was an extension of the benefit given to agricultural and residential properties.
The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) has disbursed Rs 17 lakh to the Biodiversity Management Committee (BMC) of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), Maharashtra, under the Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) framework. The amount was released through the Maharashtra State Biodiversity Board as part of the NBA’s mandate to ensure sustainable use of biological resources and equitable sharing of benefits arising from their commercial utilisation.
India and the 27-member European Union (EU) have concluded negotiations for the much-awaited Free Trade Agreement (FTA) even as a similar deal with the United States of America (US) remains elusive.
India and Germany have signed a Joint Declaration of Intent (JDI) on Telecommunications Cooperation, formalising a framework to deepen bilateral collaboration in the telecommunications and information and communication technologies (ICT) sectors.The agreement was concluded during the official visit of German Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz to India from 12–13 January 2026.
The JDI was signed by Amit Agrawal, Secretary (Telecom), on behalf of the Government of India, and by Philipp Ackermann, German Ambassador to India, representing the Government of Germany.
According to the FISME factor, 100% of MSMEs identified infrastructure development to support business growth as their key expectation from Budget 2026 
Manufacturing is undergoing a profound transformation. Across industries, automation, robotics, and digital technologies are redefining how factories operate and how value is delivered to customers. In the packaging and processing sectors, this shift is particularly visible as companies strive for greater efficiency, higher quality, and faster response times.
Statistics show 80% of business owners have the majority of their wealth tied up in their business. Diversification poses a real challenge for the small business owner. The reality is, the average entrepreneur has far too much of their wealth tied up in the business, which poses a great risk financially. Although total diversification is likely improbable and unrealistic for an active entrepreneur, there are ways to reduce your concentration. Here are three financial diversification strategies for the small business owner.
Over the past decades, brands could hinge on reach and visibility as reliable drivers of growth. The logic was clear: be seen often enough, stay top of mind, and commercial results would follow in due time. In 2026, this notion no longer holds true. Visibility is not a competitive advantage anymore; conversion efficiency is.
Additionally, digital reach has been democratised. Almost every brand now has access to scale across platforms.
A quality control order (QCO) intended to strengthen domestic manufacturing has derailed the business of a Jaipur-based MSME firm, prompting the industry body Federation of Indian Micro and Small & Medium Enterprises (FISME) to urge the government to defer the enforcement of contentious directive.
Anubhav Shukla lives in Kanpur district of Uttar Pradesh, where he runs a small, climate-controlled unit growing button mushrooms. His work relies on creating artificial temperature and humidity inside enclosed rooms, allowing mushrooms to be grown year-round rather than only in the winter season.
The unit follows a defined process—prepared compost is filled into bags, mixed with spawn, and moved into an air-conditioned chamber where the temperature is first held steady to allow the mycelium to spread.
After working across India, the US and China, Amit Srivastava kept running into the same challenge: the nutraceutical supply chain remained deeply fragmented.
“On one side, branded formulation companies struggle to get the right ingredients, manufacturing technologies, and regulatory inputs to launch innovative products. On the other side, there are scientists, small innovators, and niche companies doing brilliant work with no real way to break into the networks of large brands and established supply-chain players,” he tells YourStory.
“ The power of concentration is the only key to the treasure-house of knowledge. ”
