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Bombay Chamber Hosts MSME Conclave 2025 – 2.0
The Bombay Chamber of Commerce & Industry hosted the MSME Conclave 2025 – 2.0, themed Global Partnerships, Smart Finance & Dispute Resolution For MSME Growth. The conclave brought together policymakers, economists, international trade experts, mediators, industry leaders, and MSME representatives to deliberate on the challenges and opportunities shaping India’s micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
With over 82.63 lakh MSME units in Maharashtra, contributing nearly 40% of the state’s Gross State Domestic Product and employing 1.3 crore people, the conclave underscored the sector’s critical role in driving inclusive growth, exports, and employment.
In his welcome address, Rajan Raje, Chairperson – MSME Forum, Bombay Chamber & CEO of Nichem Solutions, reflected on the Chamber’s 189-year-old legacy, and the role it has played in India’s development, serving as a bridge between regulatory bodies, industry, and society at large. This was followed by theme-setting remarks from Sunil Kumar Sharma, GM & Zonal Head, Bank of Baroda.
Setting the tone for the day, the Fireside Chat featured Beena Vaheed, Executive Director, Bank of Baroda, in conversation with Vishwanath Nair, Bureau Chief & Banking Editor, NDTV Profit. Addressing the common perception that banks have been hesitant to lend to MSMEs, Vaheed observed, “This is the opinion of the past. In 2025 alone, Bank of Baroda registered a 15% growth in credit to MSMEs. Digital lending has revolutionised the process—today MSMEs don’t need to walk into branches, paperwork has been simplified, and banks are moving towards cash-flow-based lending models.” On the subject of supply chain financing, she emphasised its centrality to the bank’s strategy, noting that “it has been a strategic growth engine for us. With deep relationships across PSUs and corporates, we have been able to act as a platform for ecosystem financing. This lowers transaction costs, reduces risk, and today nearly 60% of our MSME portfolio runs through supply chain financing.”
She further explained how digitalisation has accelerated credit delivery: “What used to take 59 minutes earlier, today even loans of ₹5 crore can be processed in 10–15 minutes, thanks to full back-end integration. We have already discounted 1.89 crore invoices amounting to ₹6.49 lakh crore.” Concluding the session, she underscored the bank’s role as a partner, not just a lender: “Our approach is not just to lend but to advise MSMEs—partnering with them and helping transform them into tomorrow’s large corporates.”
This was followed by presentations from Sandeep Prakash, Zonal Sales Manager, and Tania Das, Senior Manager Forex, both from Bank of Baroda, who outlined tailored financial solutions for MSMEs, and a presentation by Uma Iyer, DGM, New India Assurance Company Limited, who highlighted insurance as a vital safeguard for small enterprises.
The first panel discussion was moderated by R. Srinivasan, Co-Chairperson – MSME Forum, Bombay Chamber and Director, AIRA Consulting Pvt. Ltd., and featured Madan Sabnavis, Chief Economist at Bank of Baroda, Rishi Kant Tiwari, Joint Director (Regional Head) of FIEO (Western Region), and Namrata Jage, Founder of BharatFi. The session examined the impact of tariff escalations on MSMEs, with particular attention to exporters in sectors such as textiles, auto components, and engineering goods. The panellists discussed the rising cost pressures faced by enterprises, the need for diversifying markets to reduce vulnerabilities, and the importance of responsive policy and financial support to help MSMEs manage shrinking margins, delayed payments, and liquidity challenges.
The second panel discussion, “Unlocking Growth through Mediation – A New Era for MSMEs,” was introduced by Ashok Barat, Past President & Mentor – Dispute Resolution, Bombay Chamber and Director, Bata India Ltd., and moderated by Sandeep Khosla, Director General of the Bombay Chamber and Member of the Micro, Small Enterprises Facilitation Council (MSEFC). The panellists included Manissh Assarkar, Advocate, Corporate Lawyer & Mediator at Assarkar & Co.; Hasit B. Seth, Independent Counsel, Arbitrator & Mediator at HLaw Chambers; and Rajesh Doiphode, Former Industries Officer – MSEFC Konkan Thane, Government of Maharashtra.
The discussion broadly focused on the challenges MSMEs face with contractual disputes, the benefits of mediation as a cost- and time-efficient resolution method, and the importance of preventive legal practices. The panellists also explored the role of Micro, Small Enterprises Facilitation Councils, the need for stronger collaboration between chambers, facilitation councils, and government bodies, and the potential of digital platforms to make dispute resolution faster and more transparent.
In the sessions that followed, the focus shifted to international opportunities. Khosla introduced a business delegation to Cyprus. The discussions then expanded to a global canvas with Cristina Chiriboga, Chief Trade & Investment Officer of the Republic of Ecuador, sharing strategies to connect Indian MSMEs with Latin American markets; G Labane, Consul General of the Republic of South Africa, highlighting the country’s growing opportunities; and Vicente Gomis Ruiz, Economic & Commercial Counsellor at the Consulate General of Spain in Mumbai, presenting opportunities for collaboration in technology and green industries.
The conclave concluded with a strong call for greater collaboration between financial institutions, government, and industry bodies to build an enabling ecosystem that empowers MSMEs to scale globally and contribute significantly to India’s vision of self-reliance and sustainable growth. The MSME Conclave 2025 – 2.0 was supported by Bank of Baroda and New India Assurance Company Limited.
