Sustainability of MSMEs with emphasis on 'Green Industries'

(from left to right) N Muthusezhiyan (principal counsellor, CII Sohrabji Godrej Green Business Center, Hyderabad), Arun Kumar (MD, AGL) Anil Reddy Vennam (president, FTAPCCI), MM Sriram (executive director, Samooha Industries) and K Rama Devi (president, ALEAP) at Business Standard Smart Business in Hyderabad on December 12, 2015, in association with ALEAP

Women entrepreneurs and the Association of Lady Entrepreneurs of AP (ALEAP) emerged as role models for the rest of the MSME world on how to balance sustainability with business interests at the Business Standard Smart Business in association with ALEAP, panel discussion on ‘Sustainability of MSMEs with emphasis on Green Industries’. ALEAP has been in the forefront of thought leadership on matters of environmental sustainability, implementing a number of environmental-friendly steps at the Gajula Ramaram industrial estate which is exclusively for units set up by women entrepreneurs. 
 

ALEAP president K Rama Devi informed the gathering about the steps taken to further the cause of environmental sustainability: the use of energy saving bulbs for general lighting; the use of solar power; and recycling of waste water.

“Women entrepreneurs think responsibly and also try to manage their businesses as eco-friendly as possible,” she said.

Experts at the discussion shared their knowledge and experience with members of ALEAP, on how actions like conservation of energy and water make business sense.
 

Arun Kumar, MD, AGL, gave a detailed presentation on how industry can help build a circular economy to conserve resources. He said that MSMEs following green business practices can access international markets as multi-national corporations prefer such vendors. 
 

N Muthusezhiyan, principal counsellor of CII Sohrabji Godrej Green Business Center, explained how the green rating is given to companies. 
 

Anil Reddy Vennam, president, Federation of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FTAPCCI), talked about the initiatives of industrial units in Hyderabad to adopt environment friendly practices. 

M M Sriram outlined the difficulties faced by MSMEs in adopting green business practices without the active support of various government agencies.