India SME Forum and NITI Aayog Launch A Million Women Arise Program

India SME Forum and the NITI AayoglaunchedA Million Women Arisetoday, a joint initiative aimed at empowering women entrepreneurs across India. The initiative was unveiled during India SME Forum’s 6th annual conference MSMEs In Viksit Bharat: Fueling The Growth Engineheld today.

The high-impact event brought together industry leaders, policymakers, entrepreneurs, and experts to deliberate on the evolving role of MSMEs in India’s economic growth trajectory and also highlighted the role of e-commerce players like Amazon in enabling the growth of MSMEs. The conference featured a series of insightful panel discussions addressing key themes, including women-led entrepreneurship, export expansion, sustainability, and digital finance.

Commenting on the launch of the program, Ankita Pandey, Director, Ministry of MSME,said, "Women-owned enterprises make up 35% of India’s 6 crore registered MSMEs, yet they face unique challenges, including gender bias and limited access to markets. The Ministry of MSME is committed to addressing these gaps through initiatives that enhance formalization, mentorship, capacity-building, and e-commerce integration. Platforms like India SME Forum play a crucial role in breaking these barriers, and we are proud to support A Million Women Arise initiative in collaboration with NITI Aayog to empower women entrepreneurs at scale."

Anna Roy, Principal Economic Advisor, NITI Aayog & Mission Director, WEPemphasized,“The Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP) is a public-private partnership, bringing together key ministries, including MSME, to support women entrepreneurs. By integrating existing programs, we aim to create a cohesive support system through access to finance, markets, compliance support, skilling, mentorship, and networking. Collaboration is key, and we are excited to partner with the India SME Forum on the A Million Women Arise program to accelerate impact. As the Hon'ble Prime Minister emphasized, industry support is essential in empowering women entrepreneurs, and we look forward to working together to make this vision a reality.”

Vinod Kumar, President India SME Forum added, “MSMEs are the backbone of India’s economy, and their growth is pivotal for Viksit Bharat. By embracing digital finance, sustainability, and global trade, MSMEs can enhance their competitiveness and expand their reach. Through this collaboration with NITI Aayog, we aim to extend WEP’s initiatives to millions of aspiring women entrepreneurs, providing them with the knowledge and support needed to build successful businesses. Imagine the economic transformation if even 5% of India’s women became entrepreneurs – that is the vision we are working towards.”

In addition, India SME Forum also formalized a strategic partnership with IndiGo, India’s leading airline, through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the event. This collaboration marks a pivotal step in providing MSMEs with improved travel solutions, reinforcing their growth and mobility. The partnership will offer the Forum members exclusive travel benefits, customized allowances, and seamless connectivity to support their business expansion. Through this initiative, IndiGo will introduce tailored travel solutions that will enhance accessibility, reduce costs, and foster growth opportunities for SMEs across India.

The panel on Waking up the Silent Giant – Empowering Women Through Entrepreneurship, focused on unlocking economic opportunities for women entrepreneurs through capacity building, financial access, and digital inclusion. Panelists from Green Artha, Ministry of MSME, ICRIER, and Instagram (Meta) emphasized the importance of gender-inclusive policies.

The session on Expanding Horizons: The Future of Indian Exports explored strategies for MSMEs to tap into global markets. Experts from DGFT, Google, Amazon, and the Department of Posts discussed leveraging trade agreements, digital commerce, and cross-border partnerships to drive export-led growth.

The panel on Ecosystem & Enablers for Sustainable Competitiveness of MSMEs focused on reducing compliance burdens, adopting sustainability standards, and securing green certifications to enhance business resilience. Experts from the Ministry of MSME, Deloitte, Policy Consensus Centre, and Competition Advisory Services shared their insights.

With digital finance reshaping MSME accessibility to capital, the discussion on Revolutionizing MSME Finance highlighted how online lending platforms, digital banking, and mobile payment solutions are transforming financial inclusion for small businesses. Speakers from Axis Bank, Mynd Solutions, the Ministry of MSME, and TreDs emphasized the need for innovative financing solutions.

The conference provided a dynamic platform for knowledge-sharing and strategic collaboration. By addressing critical areas such as women’s entrepreneurship, export expansion, sustainability, and digital finance, the event reaffirmed the commitment to fostering innovation and sustainable economic growth in the MSME sector.