At the MSME Day Conclave held on June 27th, on the occasion of International MSME Day, Shri Vinod Kumar, President of SME India Forum, urged micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to embrace a global mindset and expand beyond domestic boundaries. It was a wake-up call and a roadmap for Indian entrepreneurs to claim their space on the international stage.
“Many of us often underestimate our potential, believing we’re too small to think globally or forge strategic partnerships. But the reality is far more empowering,” he said, setting the tone for his address.
Highlighting one of the most overlooked opportunities, Kumar pointed out that Indian businesses—regardless of their size or structure—can establish representative offices and bank accounts in over 45 countries. “You can hire local talent, send your own team members, and start building your international footprint with relative ease,” he said. However, he emphasised, the key constraint is not regulation but lack of awareness. “We limit ourselves not because of external barriers, but due to a lack of information and vision.”
Kumar shared inspiring anecdotes of MSMEs with turnovers of less than ₹10 crore successfully establishing operations in cities like Rome, Genoa, and Milan. Some have even broken cultural and bureaucratic barriers in countries like France. In a striking example, he narrated the story of an Indian entrepreneur who, after forming a joint venture with a European company, became the mayor of the Polish town housing their factory, while his son now manages operations from the Czech Republic.
“This is not fiction; this is the real, transformative power of looking beyond borders,” he remarked, reinforcing the idea that small beginnings can lead to international success stories.
He urged MSMEs to see India not as the only market but as their base of operations. “Every day, over 200 international companies approach our trade desks seeking joint ventures, sourcing opportunities, or local partnerships. It’s time we stop waiting and start stepping into these opportunities.”
The SME India Forum, under his leadership, has already helped 70+ Indian enterprises set up international representative offices and onboarded more than 3,300 professionals on global e-commerce platforms. Just in the last year, 16 active international collaborations have been initiated through the Forum’s International Trade Desk (ITD).
For businesses still hesitant to venture abroad, Kumar recommended starting small by using cross-border e-commerce platforms. “Drop a small B2C consignment, monitor real-time feedback, learn about standards and consumer behaviour. Direct-to-consumer (D2C) cross-border e-commerce gives you a straight line to your international customer.”
The Conclave also featured discussions on how MSMEs can test their products in global markets, access funding, and navigate regulatory environments, all geared toward helping them take the first step in their global journey.
He concluded with a powerful reminder: “India has around 173,000 exporters, but only 53,000 are active. If you’re not exporting, you’re missing the bus—and we don’t want you left behind. You deserve to be on that global growth journey.”
Leave a Reply