'Small is beautiful small is the new big'

After mobilizing the grand spirit of MSMEs across 12 cities and charting out ways to aid them in their entrepreneurial journey, IndiaMART brought the curtains down to its Emerging Business Forum 2015, holding that the internet is the most fertile medium to yield business growth and that ease of financing and access to technology will help SMEs stand on firmer legs

Themed Make in India: The Ground Reality, the concluding EBF session analyzed the country's existing business environment, eco-political situation, manufacturing and exports for SMEs to learn and take the next big leap. The event also analyzed the government's Make in India vision and its real impact on the ease of doing business.

Dinesh Agarwal, CEO and Founder IndiaMART in his inaugural address, lauded Prime Minister Modi's ambitious vision for SMEs to contribute to 25 percent of the GDP by 2025, believing this to be an immense opportunity for the industry.

"Riding on the momentum we believe that Small is beautiful. Small is the new bigh. Small is innovative, sharp, agile, flexible and is able to mould and deliver," he said.

On the power of the the internet, he said it was "the most fertile medium and it is revolutionizing the SME ecosystem in the country. Over 20 lakh suppliers at IndiaMART conduct 20-80 percent of their business by leveraging the internet efficiently and the profit margin they earn is higher than those businesses that do not use the internet".

"We request the Government to take steps towards building a conducive business environment and simplify complex policies and processes. Reforms like implementation of GST, easing financing options for SMEs and encouraging technology adoption are some of the crucial factors that would place SMEs on a high growth trajectory," he added.

The event also witnessed a special address by philanthropist and spiritual guru Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev, who spoke of SMES as the only engine that keeps running and buzzing in the country despite the various disruptions affecting the economy.

"Easy access to finance and access to technology are the two crucial factors that are deterring the MSMEs' growth matrix in the country. For the Make in India vision to be a practical reality, it would take at least 8 to 10 years and cannot be proved in 18 months," Vasudev held.