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Mumbai: Industry leader Sunil Mathur, Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer, Siemens emphasised that India’s Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) are poised to play a defining role in the country’s emergence as a global manufacturing and export powerhouse.

Addressing industry stakeholders, entrepreneurs, and policymakers at Bombay Chamber’s MSME Conclave 4.0, Mathur noted that India’s strong investments in energy, infrastructure, manufacturing, and technology are creating unprecedented opportunities for MSMEs to expand their presence in international markets.

“MSMEs contribute nearly 60 per cent of India’s exports and remain the backbone of our economy. Their growth, modernisation, and global competitiveness will be central to India’s economic progress in the coming decades,” said Mathur.

Highlighting India’s rapid infrastructure development, Mathur pointed out that more than 90 records have been broken in energy generation over the past decade. Over the coming decade, the country is projected to add generation capacity equivalent to two Germanys combined. “Reliable energy and modern infrastructure are critical enablers of industrial growth. These investments will help Indian businesses become more efficient, competitive, and globally connected,” he said.

Addressing the importance of productivity and efficiency, Mathur observed that advanced manufacturing operations in Europe and North America often achieve efficiency levels of around 99 percent, while many Indian operations currently operate at approximately 75 percent. “The gap can only be bridged through technology adoption,” he stated.

“Technology is not just an option—it is the answer. Businesses that embrace digitalisation, automation, artificial intelligence, and advanced manufacturing will be best positioned to compete globally,” he said.

Mathur also emphasised the need for stronger investments in research and development. “If India is to become a truly global manufacturing and innovation leader, greater focus on innovation and R&D is essential. Competitiveness today is driven not only by cost but by the ability to create value through innovation,” he remarked.

He called for sustained efforts to upskill employees and entrepreneurs in emerging technologies and advanced manufacturing practices.”The future belongs to organizations that can do more with less—more productivity, more quality, and more innovation through greater efficiency,” he said.

Concluding his address, Mathur urged Indian MSMEs to focus on five key priorities: Quality excellence, technology adoption, innovation, global market readiness, and continuous workforce development.

The Keynote was followed by a Fireside Chat on Evolving Labour Laws: MSME Perspective between R. Srinivasan, Co-Chairperson – MSME Forum, Bombay Chamber & Director, AIRA Consulting and Lancy D’Souza, Advocate & Legal Advisor, Bombay Chamber of Commerce & Industry.

The session on Bilateral Trade Opportunities for MSMEs in the Evolving Global Landscape had presentations by Mahboob Issa Alraisi, Consul General, Consulate General of the Sultanate of Oman; H.E. Mr. Eddy Wardoyo, Consul General, Consulate General of The Republic of Indonesia and Junhan Kim, Director General, Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency.

There was also a virtual session on India U.S. Trade Facilitation Portal by Rajlakshmi Kadam, Consul (Trade), Consulate General of India, New York.

In her address, Girija Subramanian, Chairman-Cum-Managing Director, The New India Assurance Co. spoke about the new products her organisation was launching.

This was followed by sessions on Leveraging AI for MSME Growth presented by Harish Narayanan, CMO & CDO, HDFC Asset Management Company while the session on TReDS Portal: Bridging MSMEs and Banks for Seamless Trade was presented by Amit Sachdev, COO, M1xchange.

The panel discussion on The Changing World for MSME Finance was moderated by R. Srinivasan, Co-Chairperson – MSME Forum, Bombay Chamber & Director, AIRA Consulting and the panelists were Harish Aldangadi, Senior General Manager Retail Credit & SME, SVC Bank; C. S. Arya, General Manager – (MSME & eSCF), IDBI Bank and Ashish Taneja, Head – Commercial Business, CRIF High Mark Credit Information Services.