MSMEs expect special package

MSMEs in India

• Share of MSME sector in GDP in 2021-22 was 29.15%

• Share of export of MSME products in exports was 45.56% in 2023-24

• Only 6% of MSMEs actively sell on e-commerce platforms

New Delhi: The MSME sector wants Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to come out with a special package for small and medium enterprises to ensure greater availability of institutional credit at competitive rates to enable it to play a bigger role as India moves closer to becoming a $5 trillion economy.

Sitharaman is scheduled to present the interim Budget 2023-24 in the Lok Sabha on February 1. This will be the last major economic document of the government before the next general elections. The share of MSME (Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises) sector in the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2021-22 was 29.15 per cent.

On expectations from the Budget, Federation of Indian Micro and Small & Medium Enterprises (FISME) said the relationship between banks and MSME is an uneven one with the balance of power heavily tilted in favour of the lenders.

“Lack of competition in the banking sector (75 per cent of banks being public sector) and weak regulatory institutions, which have not been very successful in ensuring customer centredness of banks, and near-defunct grievance redressal mechanism (Office of Banking Ombudsman) all coalesce into an unhappy experience for an ordinary MSME owner with the banks -- whether private or public,” FISME Secretary General Anil Bhardwaj said.

Bhardwaj expects Sitharaman to address issues faced by the MSME sector in her Budget. The share of export of MSME-specified products in the country’s overall exports was 45.56 per cent in 2023-24 (up to September 2023), up from 43.59 per cent in 2022-23, according to a reply to the Lok Sabha by the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises.

Consultancy firm Deloitte said to reduce risks in capital flows to MSMEs, particularly industries such as automotive, electronics, industrial, and electrical machinery, and chemicals, it is advisable to promote risk mitigation tools, like credit guarantees, and insurance schemes. It also noted that only 6 per cent of MSMEs actively sell on e-commerce platforms. To boost digital commerce, the government must reimagine it, with an ecosystem that eliminates or resolves challenges for stakeholders.

As on December 8, 2023, the total employment recorded on the Udyam Registration Portal (since July 2020) was 15.55 crore, including informal micro enterprises registered on Udyam Assist Platform

Puneet Kaura, Chairman of CII Delhi State and MD & CEO of Samtel Avionics, said the MSME sector is the backbone of the country as it employs a large number of people, besides contributing to the growth of the manufacturing sector and promoting exports. He said one of the main problems being faced by the MSME sector is the availability of timely credit at competitive cost. “We want Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to come up with a special package for MSMEs in the Interim Budget, so that the small and medium units do not suffer for want of credit. This sector has the talent and risk-taking appetite and can play a big role in strengthening India’s capabilities even in critical sectors such as semiconductors, space technology, defence, and medical equipment,” Kaura said.

Rohit Arora, CEO and Co-founder, Biz2X and Biz2Credit, anticipates a Budget that prioritises financial inclusion and ease of doing business, fostering a conducive environment for growth. “Measures such as simplified regulatory procedures and reduced compliance burden can empower startups and MSMEs, promoting a more agile and competitive landscape,” he said.

In alignment with the digital era, investments in digital infrastructure, cybersecurity, and skill development are essential for the sustainable growth of startups and MSMEs, he added. The Union Budget 2023-24 had earmarked Rs 22,137.95 crore for the MSME ministry, 41.6 per cent higher than the preceding fiscal year. There are expectations that the allocations will be significantly higher for the next fiscal.