Can India's SME Exchanges catalyse a K-shaped economic revolution?

Time of India

a day ago

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The global economy is enduring a K-shaped recovery, where divergence defines progress, some sectors surge ahead on innovation and adaptability while others stagnate under legacy burdens. For emerging markets like India, this uneven trajectory presents both a challenge and an opportunity.While the challenges are clear, the opportunities revolve around an underappreciated lever of economic transformation: alternative stock exchanges specifically for small and medium enterprises (SMEs). India's NSE and BSE are not just financial conduits but engines that drive the country's economic growth no doubts there. However, a crucial question emerges: can they move beyond their niche status to support SMEs, while also mitigating differences during a K-shaped recovery?Globally, alternative exchanges have repeatedly proven their ability to democratise capital and fuel economic dynamism. The Nasdaq, launched in 1971 as an electronic counter to the NYSE's rigid floor trading model, became the launchpad for tech visionaries Apple, Microsoft, and Amazon who might have struggled under traditional listing norms. Similarly, London's AIM market, operational since 1995, has propelled over 3,800 SMEs into the limelight, collectively raising more than £130 billion in growth capital. What makes these platforms succeed is their ability to lower barriers regulatory, financial, and operational that traditionally exclude smaller, high potential firms from mainstream markets.Beyond the West, Asia offers compelling precedents. Hong Kong's Growth Enterprise Market (GEM), established in 1999, was designed to support high growth startups, particularly in tech and innovation driven sectors. Though it faced challenges including liquidity constraints and regulatory scrutiny it played a pivotal role in nurturing early-stage firms before they graduated to the main board. Similarly, Japan's Mothers Market (Market of the High growth and Emerging Stocks), launched in 1999 under the Tokyo Stock Exchange, has been instrumental in funding disruptive ventures, particularly in robotics, biotech, and green energy. Even China's ChiNext (2009) and STAR Market (2019), though more structured than pure SME exchanges, have demonstrated how tailored listing ecosystems can accelerate innovation by connecting high growth firms with patient capital.Africa, too, is witnessing a quiet revolution through exchanges like the Cape Town Stock Exchange (CTSE) and A2X, which focus on agile, high growth sectors insulated from broader economic sluggishness. The common thread across these platforms is their recognition that uneven recoveries demand uneven solutions markets that prioritise agility over scale, and innovation over incumbency.Against this global backdrop, India's SME exchanges BSE SME (2012) and NSE Emerge (2012) present a fascinating case study. In their very first decade, they have facilitated close to 1,000 SME IPOs , collectively raising approximately ₹30,000+ crores (~$3.6 billion). The momentum is accelerating: 2023 saw a record 182 SME IPOs, a 50% year-on-year surge, reflecting growing confidence among entrepreneurs and investors alike. More strikingly, the BSE SME IPO index delivered ~60% returns in 2023, dwarfing the ~20% gains of the Nifty 50. High growth sectors Fintech, specialty chemicals, electric vehicle components, and advanced manufacturing dominate these listings, underscoring the platform's role in funding India's next gen industries.Yet, for all their promise, India's SME exchanges remain hamstrung by structural inefficiencies. Liquidity is a persistent challenge low free float and scant institutional participation lead to erratic trading volumes, forcing many firms to eventually migrate to mainboard listings. Regulatory burdens, particularly post listing compliance costs, remain disproportionately high for small enterprises. And despite rising retail interest evident in SME IPOs being oversubscribed 100x or more there remains a trust deficit.The path forward demands bold, systemic interventions and recent regulatory evolution suggests India is laying the groundwork for meaningful change. Institutional participation must deepen, with mutual funds, alternative investment funds (AIFs), and foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) needing stronger incentives to bring stability and liquidity to SME stocks. Market making mechanisms require strengthening to curb volatility, while regulatory refinements must continue to make these platforms more accessible without compromising governance. The growing focus on financial literacy for both entrepreneurs exploring IPO avenues and investors navigating risk perceptions is particularly crucial, when government-backed awareness campaigns combine with incubators and investment banks guiding SMEs on IPO readiness, we see the emergence of a more robust ecosystem. These developments, coupled with progressive regulatory adjustments, are gradually transforming SME exchanges from high-risk niches into structured growth engines precisely what India needs to harness its entrepreneurial potential in this era of economic divergence.Perhaps most importantly, India should explore sector specialized SME boards dedicated platforms for agri-tech, clean energy, and deep-tech ventures that align with the nation's strategic priorities. Imagine an "Emerge Green" board for sustainable startups or an "Emerge Tech" platform for AI and semiconductor innovators. Such focused ecosystems could replicate the success of China's STAR Market, which fast tracked listings for tech and biotech firms, or Japan's Mothers Market, which became a hotspot for robotics and automation ventures.The stakes could not be higher. In a K-shaped world, where economic fortunes diverge sharply, India's SME exchanges offer a rare convergence of growth and inclusion. They can ensure that the smallest firms with the biggest ideas aren't left behind but instead become the drivers of India's next economic leap. The global precedents are clear, and the early signs are encouraging. The challenge now is for India's policymakers and market participants to carry this momentum forward or risk letting a crucial opportunity slip away.The emergence of SME exchanges is more than a market development; it's a structural necessity for India's economic resilience and grassroots capital formation. For India to harness its entrepreneurial energy and navigate the K-shaped recovery, these platforms must evolve from niche curiosities to mainstream catalysts. The world has shown it's possible. The numbers suggest it's plausible. The only uncertainty is whether India will make it inevitable.The writer is MD and Founder, Highbrow Securities.