Ahead of World MSME Day 2026, industry representatives called for a policy shift towards improving the competitiveness of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), emphasising that Indian small businesses need easier access to finance, technology, market opportunities, and faster payments to successfully navigate an increasingly fragmented global trading environment. They pointed out that the current geopolitical situation, supply chain disruptions, and changing compliance rules are challenging these smaller businesses, and any policy support should now focus on improving their productivity, use of technology, and access to market to keep them competitive globally.
According to Anil Bhardwaj, Secretary General of the Federation of Indian Micro and Small & Medium Enterprises (FISME), the global business environment is undergoing a structural transition rather than a temporary disruption. “The first challenge is to deal with global trade uncertainty and market access risks. The world trading system is becoming increasingly fragmented due to geopolitical tensions, tariff measures, supply chain realignments, CBAM-type green regulations, quality standards, and growing protectionism,” Bhardwaj says.
