Issues faced by MSME’s during the lockdown in India:

Webinar organised by IPMMI, IPMMA and MMI

On 25th May, 2020, Messe Muenchen India – organiser of leading trade fairs Pharma Pro&Pack Expo and Packmach Asia Expo organised an interactive webinar to discuss the issues faced by MSME’s during the lockdown. The subject of the webinar was ‘Challenges faced by MSMEs and the way forward’.

The panel included esteemed names such as Shri. Pratap Chandra Sarangi, Minister of State, Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Government of India | Mr. Jasmeet Singh, Honorary. Gen. Secretary, Faridabad Industries Association | Mr. Ajay Popat, Chairman, Environment & Climate Change (Waste & Water Management) ASSOCHAM | Mr. Mitesh Mody, President, All India Electronics Association, Secretary, Chamber of Associations of Maharashtra Industry and Trade (CAMIT) | Mr. Samir Limaye, President, The Institute of Packaging Machinery Manufacturers of India | Mr. V. Anbu, DG & CEO, (IMTMA & BIEC) and incoming President UFI | Mr. Balasubramanian S Pillai, Executive Director & COO at IMTMA & BIEC, President, Indian Exhibition Ind Assoc., Secretary, IAEE India Chapter. The webinar was moderated by Mr. Bhupinder Singh, CEO, Messe Muenchen India. The panellists discussed and shared their insight on how to improve the condition, survival and help develop the business of MSME’s. The webinar was attended by over 2000 attendees from different countries.

‘MSME sector is the backbone of all manufacturing in India’

Mr. Jasmeet Singh stated how important MSME’s are important in any industry, as it not only creates employment opportunities for the youth but also the source of on ground innovation and manufacturing. ‘Make in India’ project was made for the MSME segment, enabling India to export and manufacture world class products. Many MSME’s have gone into a liquidity crunch due to the shutdown of business for the past two months in lockdown and also the decrease in demand.

‘Dependency, Independency and Interdependency’

Mr. Samir Limaye explains how The Institute of Packaging Machinery Manufacturers of India has created more than one lakh employment opportunities. The members of IPMMI have made it possible for essential goods to be packaged and delivered to everyone during the lockdown. Processing and packaging have to work together and innovate in order to take advantage of the current scenario and thereby also reach international markets through exports.

‘We should hope for the best and prepare for the worst’

Shri. Pratap Chandra Sarangi shared his views and provided insights on queries put forth by the panellists. The manufacturing companies that could not retain the migrant labourers are the ones who are the most affected. MSME’s is the largest sector of employment generation in the country. Shri. Sarangi explains that the Government has taken initiatives and supported the MSME’s during the lockdown through loans and funding now and will do so in the future. We have to focus our attention to our villages and our farmers. Just like Japan and China have overcome challenges in the past decade and become independent and developed, India can too by increasing trade and business in India. The challenge is to share awareness in the rural areas and develop eco-friendly comprehensive technology.

The recorded version of the entire webinar is available online on YouTube on the Messe Muenchen India channel: Topic: MM India webinar – Challenges for MSMEs and way forward