Unlocking Global Growth for Indian MSMEs: Abid Murshed of PayPal India Shares Strategic Insights

India’s MSME sector, often hailed as the backbone of the nation's economy, is undergoing a rapid transformation—driven by digitalization, global e-commerce, and rising entrepreneurial ambition. Yet, navigating the complexities of international trade remains a daunting challenge for many small and mid-sized businesses. From payment security and compliance to customer trust and global visibility, the journey beyond borders demands more than just intent—it demands robust enablement.

In this exclusive conversation with Faiz Askari, Founder & Editor of SMEStreet, Abid Murshed, Head of Sales at PayPal India, offers deep insights into how PayPal is empowering Indian MSMEs and freelancers to thrive in global markets. With PayPal’s unmatched global network, advanced fraud protection systems, and simplified cross-border payment infrastructure, Indian entrepreneurs are finding new ways to grow confidently across over 200 countries and regions.

Abid shares PayPal’s strategic roadmap for India, emerging trends in the global payments ecosystem, and why the future of MSME growth lies in intelligent, secure, and direct engagement with international customers. This interview is a must-read for every MSME leader ready to go global. Here are the editedd excerpts of the interview.

Q1: What are the key challenges Indian MSMEs face in cross-border trade?

Abid Murshed:
India has over 63 million MSMEs, contributing nearly 30% to the GDP. Yet, many face significant hurdles when accessing global markets. The biggest issues include limited digital capabilities, lack of market insights, high logistics costs, and complex international delivery mechanisms. Moreover, managing secure, seamless payments across borders—especially currency conversions and payment assurance—continues to be a pressing challenge.

At PayPal, we’ve built a two-sided global network that connects Indian MSMEs with consumers in over 200 markets. Our built-in Buyer and Seller Protection instills confidence in transactions and helps MSMEs expand globally with peace of mind.

Empowering MSMEs

Q2: How does PayPal empower MSMEs and freelancers to achieve global e-commerce success?

Abid Murshed:
Our mission is to democratize global access. We simplify cross-border commerce by providing efficient, reliable, and secure payment solutions tailored for MSMEs and freelancers. One of the most appreciated aspects of our platform is our ease of integration—freelancers and entrepreneurs can start accepting payments in 140+ currencies quickly, without any upfront costs.

We offer link-based payments and invoicing tools that make payment tracking easy and transparent. Our performance-based pricing ensures businesses only pay as they grow. MSMEs using PayPal have reported wider reach, stronger cash flow, and increased trust with international clients.

The Aspect of Cybersecurity

Q3: Security is paramount. How does PayPal ensure transaction security and compliance?

Abid Murshed:
Security and compliance are foundational to PayPal. We operate with over 600 AI and machine learning risk models running continuously, informed by billions of global transactions. Our platform includes real-time fraud detection, encrypted data protection, and multilayered risk protocols.

We align proactively with local and global regulations. For Indian merchants, fast settlements, buyer/seller protection, and robust dispute resolution mechanisms are crucial. We strongly urge all businesses to comply with RBI's KYC norms to ensure uninterrupted services and safe transactions.

Q4: What is PayPal’s long-term vision for India’s MSME sector?

Abid Murshed:
Our vision is to be a catalyst for global success of Indian MSMEs. We're enabling access for merchants who were previously underserved—whether due to geography or digital gaps. Our in-principle approval from RBI for the PA-CB-E license is a step toward this mission.

We’re prioritizing sectors like fashion, edtech, and travel where Indian MSMEs are globally competitive. We're building a strong international partner ecosystem to support their expansion and leveraging PayPal’s global trust to drive international demand for Indian products and services.

Cross Border Business

Q5: What cross-border trends should Indian MSMEs prepare for?

Abid Murshed:
The cross-border payment landscape is evolving rapidly. MSMEs must adapt to mobile-first, digital-first customer preferences, especially as Gen Z and millennials favor messaging apps over calls. Interestingly, our research shows brand-owned websites now outperform marketplaces in generating international sales, signaling the need to invest in direct-to-consumer (D2C) strategies.

Another key trend is the emergence of Agentic Commerce, where AI-based systems automate everything from product discovery to negotiation and purchase on behalf of customers. MSMEs can capitalize on this by adopting tools that personalize and automate their customer experiences.

PayPal is playing a pivotal role in reshaping India’s MSME journey toward global markets. By offering secure, scalable, and smart payment solutions, the company is not just moving money—it’s enabling MSMEs to move forward. With a strategic mix of technology, trust, and vision, PayPal is driving Indian entrepreneurship to new international heights.

About the Interviewer:
Faiz Askari is the Founder & Editor of SMEStreet.in, a leading knowledge-sharing platform for MSMEs and entrepreneurs in India.