Latest news with #ETMSMEAwards2025
Time of India
2 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
ET MSME Awards 2025: How CMAI became the backbone of India's garment revolution
Live Events Each week, the ET MSME Awards will feature an industry association that has played a critical role in India 's growth story. This week, we celebrate CMAI If you own or manage a clothing and apparel enterprise, nominate your business for the ET MSME Awards 2025 before August 31, the bustling bylanes of Prabhadevi, in what was once Mumbai's mill hub, the hum of sewing machines never quite dies down. Here stands an organisation that has quietly shaped India's apparel destiny since 1963: the Clothing Manufacturers Association of India (CMAI).The CMAI may not grab headlines in the micro, small, and medium enterprise (MSME) space the way electronics or healthcare suppliers do, but its influence runs through every thread of India's $176 billion textile industry. From its humble beginnings to becoming the voice of over 20,000 companies, from micro units to international juggernauts such as Levi's, its story is essentially the story of how India's textile sector evolved from post-independence protectionism to global most transformative contribution came in 1978, when the organisation took the lead in the creation of the Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC). At a time when India's garment exports were nascent and fragmented, this initiative laid the foundation for what would become a multi-billion dollar export timing couldn't have been more crucial. The late 1970s marked India's gradual opening to global trade, and the garment sector needed institutional support to navigate international markets. Born from CMAI's vision, AEPC became the regulatory body that would eventually oversee the promotion of India's garment when Indian apparel flies off international retail shelves from New York to Tokyo, that success traces back to CMAI's institutional foresight nearly half a century ago. When an Indian garment shipment reaches international ports with CMAI's certification, it carries the credibility of an institution that has vetted industry players for small exporters, such institutional backing can be the difference between smooth customs clearance and costly you a top exporter? Nominate yourself for the ET MSME Awards 2025 CMAI's real genius lies in understanding that India's clothing and apparel industry would be built not by industrial behemoths, but by thousands of small manufacturers scattered across the country. Long before 'MSME' became a policy buzzword, CMAI recognised that the sector's strength lay in its distributed network of small insight shaped everything from CMAI's advocacy positions to service offerings. When it established a network of affiliate testing associations and facilities, it wasn't just about meeting international quality standards, but about making those standards accessible to small enterprises who couldn't afford their own facilities. For a manufacturer in Odisha, Tamil Nadu, or Punjab, this means the difference between accessing global markets and remaining trapped in domestic price approach to supporting MSMEs goes beyond advocacy — it creates markets. The association's trade fairs have become crucial business platforms where small manufacturers meet retailers, forge partnerships, and showcase North India Garment Fair (NIGF), scheduled for November 25-27 this year, exemplifies this philosophy. More than 95% of exhibitors are MSMEs from across India, including Mumbai, the National Capital Region , Bengaluru, Punjab, Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh . Retailers, wholesalers, agents, e-commerce representatives, distributors, and international buyers alike throng the NIGF , making it an economic lifeline for clothing and apparel also doubles as an interface between government policy and ground-level business reality. When policymakers design schemes for the textile sector, they often rely on CMAI's insights to understand how regulations on market access, credit, and ease of doing business will play out in association also plays a proactive role in voluntary commitments to sustainability. In 2019, it partnered with India's Ministry of Textiles, UN in India, and Reliance Brands Limited to launch (short for Sustainable Resolution), an initiative that creates a pathway to move towards more sustainable fashion. signatory brands include the likes of Shoppers Stop, Lifestyle, Biba, AND, the Aditya Birla Group, and Being through apparel training centres in multiple states, CMAI has trained over 43,000 people and placed nearly 33,500 trainees under the Ministry of Textiles' Integrated Skill Development many traditional industries, garment manufacturing has had to navigate the digital transformation. CMAI has positioned itself as a bridge between old-economy manufacturers and new-economy embrace of e-commerce platforms and digital marketing reflects this evolution. By helping traditional manufacturers understand online retail dynamics, CMAI has enabled countless small businesses to expand their reach beyond physical trade fairs and regional digital push became particularly crucial during the Covid-19 pandemic, when traditional business models faced unprecedented disruption. Companies that had embraced digital platforms through CMAI's guidance found themselves better positioned to weather the India aims to become a $5 trillion economy by 2027, the garment sector's role becomes even more critical. With textiles and apparel going through rapid evolution, from fast fashion to sustainable clothing and from offline to omnichannel, CMAI's challenge is to help members navigate these association's recent focus on sustainability and technological upgradation suggests it understands these challenges. But its real test will be helping traditional manufacturers adapt to changing consumer preferences while maintaining the cost competitiveness that has been their historic five-decade journey offers a masterclass in industry institution-building. It didn't just represent existing interests, but helped create the very ecosystem that allowed those interests to flourish. From a handful of Mumbai-based manufacturers to a pan-Indian network of 20,000 companies, CMAI's evolution mirrors the transformation of Indian manufacturing boardrooms where billion dollar deals are discussed, CMAI's influence might seem modest. But in the workshops and factories where India's garment story is stitched together, its role as facilitator, advocate, and enabler continues to define possibilities for countless the quiet power of institutional leadership: not the dramatic disruption that makes headlines, but the patient building of systems that allow entire sectors to ET MSME Awards 2025 , which has IDBI Bank as banking and lending partner, is open for nominations. Put yourself up for consideration before August 31, 2025.
Economic Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Economic Times
ET MSME Awards 2025: How CMAI became the backbone of India's garment revolution
ET Online Royalty-free image of printed fabric. | Photo by maadhuri g on Pexels Each week, the ET MSME Awards will feature an industry association that has played a critical role in India's growth story. This week, we celebrate CMAI. If you own or manage a clothing and apparel enterprise, nominate your business for the ET MSME Awards 2025 before August 31, 2025. Off the bustling bylanes of Prabhadevi, in what was once Mumbai's mill hub, the hum of sewing machines never quite dies down. Here stands an organisation that has quietly shaped India's apparel destiny since 1963: the Clothing Manufacturers Association of India (CMAI). The CMAI may not grab headlines in the micro, small, and medium enterprise (MSME) space the way electronics or healthcare suppliers do, but its influence runs through every thread of India's $176 billion textile industry. From its humble beginnings to becoming the voice of over 20,000 companies, from micro units to international juggernauts such as Levi's, its story is essentially the story of how India's textile sector evolved from post-independence protectionism to global competitiveness. The architect of export success CMAI's most transformative contribution came in 1978, when the organisation took the lead in the creation of the Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC). At a time when India's garment exports were nascent and fragmented, this initiative laid the foundation for what would become a multi-billion dollar export engine. The timing couldn't have been more crucial. The late 1970s marked India's gradual opening to global trade, and the garment sector needed institutional support to navigate international markets. Born from CMAI's vision, AEPC became the regulatory body that would eventually oversee the promotion of India's garment exports. Today, when Indian apparel flies off international retail shelves from New York to Tokyo, that success traces back to CMAI's institutional foresight nearly half a century ago. When an Indian garment shipment reaches international ports with CMAI's certification, it carries the credibility of an institution that has vetted industry players for decades. For small exporters, such institutional backing can be the difference between smooth customs clearance and costly delays. Are you a top exporter? Nominate yourself for the ET MSME Awards 2025 The MSME champion CMAI's real genius lies in understanding that India's clothing and apparel industry would be built not by industrial behemoths, but by thousands of small manufacturers scattered across the country. Long before 'MSME' became a policy buzzword, CMAI recognised that the sector's strength lay in its distributed network of small entrepreneurs. This insight shaped everything from CMAI's advocacy positions to service offerings. When it established a network of affiliate testing associations and facilities, it wasn't just about meeting international quality standards, but about making those standards accessible to small enterprises who couldn't afford their own facilities. For a manufacturer in Odisha, Tamil Nadu, or Punjab, this means the difference between accessing global markets and remaining trapped in domestic price wars. CMAI's approach to supporting MSMEs goes beyond advocacy — it creates markets. The association's trade fairs have become crucial business platforms where small manufacturers meet retailers, forge partnerships, and showcase innovations. The North India Garment Fair (NIGF), scheduled for November 25-27 this year, exemplifies this philosophy. More than 95% of exhibitors are MSMEs from across India, including Mumbai, the National Capital Region, Bengaluru, Punjab, Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh. Retailers, wholesalers, agents, e-commerce representatives, distributors, and international buyers alike throng the NIGF, making it an economic lifeline for clothing and apparel enterprises. Interfacing with government and society CMAI also doubles as an interface between government policy and ground-level business reality. When policymakers design schemes for the textile sector, they often rely on CMAI's insights to understand how regulations on market access, credit, and ease of doing business will play out in practice. The association also plays a proactive role in voluntary commitments to sustainability. In 2019, it partnered with India's Ministry of Textiles, UN in India, and Reliance Brands Limited to launch (short for Sustainable Resolution), an initiative that creates a pathway to move towards more sustainable fashion. signatory brands include the likes of Shoppers Stop, Lifestyle, Biba, AND, the Aditya Birla Group, and Being Human. Lastly, through apparel training centres in multiple states, CMAI has trained over 43,000 people and placed nearly 33,500 trainees under the Ministry of Textiles' Integrated Skill Development Scheme. The digital transition Like many traditional industries, garment manufacturing has had to navigate the digital transformation. CMAI has positioned itself as a bridge between old-economy manufacturers and new-economy opportunities. Its embrace of e-commerce platforms and digital marketing reflects this evolution. By helping traditional manufacturers understand online retail dynamics, CMAI has enabled countless small businesses to expand their reach beyond physical trade fairs and regional markets. This digital push became particularly crucial during the Covid-19 pandemic, when traditional business models faced unprecedented disruption. Companies that had embraced digital platforms through CMAI's guidance found themselves better positioned to weather the crisis. To sum up As India aims to become a $5 trillion economy by 2027, the garment sector's role becomes even more critical. With textiles and apparel going through rapid evolution, from fast fashion to sustainable clothing and from offline to omnichannel, CMAI's challenge is to help members navigate these transitions. The association's recent focus on sustainability and technological upgradation suggests it understands these challenges. But its real test will be helping traditional manufacturers adapt to changing consumer preferences while maintaining the cost competitiveness that has been their historic strength. CMAI's five-decade journey offers a masterclass in industry institution-building. It didn't just represent existing interests, but helped create the very ecosystem that allowed those interests to flourish. From a handful of Mumbai-based manufacturers to a pan-Indian network of 20,000 companies, CMAI's evolution mirrors the transformation of Indian manufacturing itself. In boardrooms where billion dollar deals are discussed, CMAI's influence might seem modest. But in the workshops and factories where India's garment story is stitched together, its role as facilitator, advocate, and enabler continues to define possibilities for countless entrepreneurs. That's the quiet power of institutional leadership: not the dramatic disruption that makes headlines, but the patient building of systems that allow entire sectors to thrive. The ET MSME Awards 2025 , which has IDBI Bank as banking and lending partner, is open for nominations. Put yourself up for consideration before August 31, 2025.
Time of India
05-08-2025
- Business
- Time of India
ET MSME Awards 2025: How KASSIA built Karnataka's small industry ecosystem
Live Events Each week, the ET MSME Awards will feature an industry association that has played a critical role in India's growth story. This week, we celebrate KASSIA Are you a tech enabler from Karnataka? Nominate yourself for the ET MSME Awards 2025 In 1949, when India was still finding its industrial footing, freedom fighter RS Aradhya gathered 15 entrepreneurs in Bangalore (now Bengaluru) with an audacious dream: to create a thriving ecosystem for small-scale industries in a country where enterprise was still a foreign concept. That modest beginning has evolved into the Karnataka Small Scale Industries Association (KASSIA), now one of India's most influential MSME advocacy than 75 years later, KASSIA's fingerprints are all over Karnataka's industrial transformation. The state that houses India's Silicon Valley didn't just stumble into becoming an economic powerhouse. It was built methodically, brick by brick, by organisations like KASSIA that understood the power of micro, small, and medium enterprises long before they became makes KASSIA's story remarkable isn't just its longevity, but its prescience. Founded in 1949 with the objective to promote small enterprises at a time when enterprise was a rare phenomenon, the organisation was essentially betting on a future that most couldn't envision. While the country was focused on heavy industry and public sector dominance, KASSIA was quietly nurturing the entrepreneurial spirit that would eventually become India's economic association's early focus was laser-sharp: motivating first-generation entrepreneurs to set up manufacturing industries to function as ancillaries and component suppliers to medium and large-scale enterprises. This wasn't just about creating jobs, but about building an entire supply chain ecosystem that would make large industries viable and competitive. Register now for the ET MSME Awards 2025 and nominate yourself for one or more of our 22 advocacy: Building infrastructureToday's KASSIA has evolved far beyond its advocacy roots. The association is now pioneering what could be the next chapter in India's industrial story: it is setting up the 50,000 sq ft KASSIA Centre of Excellence and Innovation in Dobbespet along the Mumbai-Bangalore Industrial Corridor to facilitate MSMEs. The move signals its transition from industry supporter to industry isn't just another next generation business incubator. The centre represents KASSIA's understanding that apart from policy advocacy, modern MSMEs need cutting-edge infrastructure, technology access, and innovation frameworks that can compete globally. Digital transformation : Old dogs, new tricksPerhaps nothing illustrates KASSIA's adaptability better than its embrace of digital transformation. The association has developed mobile-friendly B2B portals for Android and iOS, recognising that today's entrepreneurs are as likely to conduct business on smartphones as in digital pivot isn't merely about keeping up with technology. It's about understanding that the small industries of tomorrow will be born digital. By providing these platforms, KASSIA is ensuring that its member base isn't just surviving the digital revolution, but thriving in influence extends well beyond Karnataka's borders. The association has hosted major conventions focused on themes such as innovation, technology upgradation, and banking access, bringing together some of the brightest minds in the MSME sector. More than networking events, these are idea laboratories where the future of small industry gets the leadership of industry veterans like BR Ganesh Rao, these conventions have become must-attend events for anyone serious about the MSME impact can't be measured just in the number of members or events. The organisation helped create the very concept of small-scale manufacturing in India, turning what was once a cottage industry landscape into a sophisticated ecosystem of precision manufacturers, component suppliers, and technology when Karnataka is mentioned alongside Silicon Valley or when Indian MSMEs compete successfully in global markets, there's a direct lineage back to that room in 1949, where 15 entrepreneurs decided that small could be India moves closer to its goal of a trillion-dollar digital economy, KASSIA finds itself once again at the forefront of transformation. The association that once had to convince people small industries mattered now operates in a context where MSMEs are recognised as the backbone of the country's economic question isn't whether KASSIA will remain relevant, but whether it can continue to anticipate the next big shift as successfully as it did in 1949. Given its track record of staying ahead of the curve, from early manufacturing advocacy to digital transformation, betting against KASSIA would be an era where startup ecosystems get all the attention, KASSIA represents something more enduring: the patient, methodical work of building industrial foundations that last generations. That's not just good business — it's nation-building, one small enterprise at a ET MSME Awards 2025 , which has IDBI Bank as banking and lending partner, is open for nominations. Put yourself up for consideration before August 31, 2025.
Economic Times
05-08-2025
- Business
- Economic Times
ET MSME Awards 2025: How KASSIA built Karnataka's small industry ecosystem
ET Spotlight Royalty-free image of a circuit board. Karnataka is India's hub for manufacturing electronics components. | Photo by Pixabay Each week, the ET MSME Awards will feature an industry association that has played a critical role in India's growth story. This week, we celebrate KASSIA. Are you a tech enabler from Karnataka? Nominate yourself for the ET MSME Awards 2025 ! In 1949, when India was still finding its industrial footing, freedom fighter RS Aradhya gathered 15 entrepreneurs in Bangalore (now Bengaluru) with an audacious dream: to create a thriving ecosystem for small-scale industries in a country where enterprise was still a foreign concept. That modest beginning has evolved into the Karnataka Small Scale Industries Association (KASSIA), now one of India's most influential MSME advocacy organisations. More than 75 years later, KASSIA's fingerprints are all over Karnataka's industrial transformation. The state that houses India's Silicon Valley didn't just stumble into becoming an economic powerhouse. It was built methodically, brick by brick, by organisations like KASSIA that understood the power of micro, small, and medium enterprises long before they became fashionable. The unlikely catalyst What makes KASSIA's story remarkable isn't just its longevity, but its prescience. Founded in 1949 with the objective to promote small enterprises at a time when enterprise was a rare phenomenon, the organisation was essentially betting on a future that most couldn't envision. While the country was focused on heavy industry and public sector dominance, KASSIA was quietly nurturing the entrepreneurial spirit that would eventually become India's economic backbone. The association's early focus was laser-sharp: motivating first-generation entrepreneurs to set up manufacturing industries to function as ancillaries and component suppliers to medium and large-scale enterprises. This wasn't just about creating jobs, but about building an entire supply chain ecosystem that would make large industries viable and competitive. Register now for the ET MSME Awards 2025 and nominate yourself for one or more of our 22 categories. Beyond advocacy: Building infrastructure Today's KASSIA has evolved far beyond its advocacy roots. The association is now pioneering what could be the next chapter in India's industrial story: it is setting up the 50,000 sq ft KASSIA Centre of Excellence and Innovation in Dobbespet along the Mumbai-Bangalore Industrial Corridor to facilitate MSMEs. The move signals its transition from industry supporter to industry creator. This isn't just another next generation business incubator. The centre represents KASSIA's understanding that apart from policy advocacy, modern MSMEs need cutting-edge infrastructure, technology access, and innovation frameworks that can compete globally. Digital transformation: Old dogs, new tricks Perhaps nothing illustrates KASSIA's adaptability better than its embrace of digital transformation. The association has developed mobile-friendly B2B portals for Android and iOS, recognising that today's entrepreneurs are as likely to conduct business on smartphones as in boardrooms. This digital pivot isn't merely about keeping up with technology. It's about understanding that the small industries of tomorrow will be born digital. By providing these platforms, KASSIA is ensuring that its member base isn't just surviving the digital revolution, but thriving in it. The convention circuit: Where ideas meet action KASSIA's influence extends well beyond Karnataka's borders. The association has hosted major conventions focused on themes such as innovation, technology upgradation, and banking access, bringing together some of the brightest minds in the MSME sector. More than networking events, these are idea laboratories where the future of small industry gets shaped. Under the leadership of industry veterans like BR Ganesh Rao, these conventions have become must-attend events for anyone serious about the MSME sector. The ripple effect KASSIA's impact can't be measured just in the number of members or events. The organisation helped create the very concept of small-scale manufacturing in India, turning what was once a cottage industry landscape into a sophisticated ecosystem of precision manufacturers, component suppliers, and technology innovators. Today, when Karnataka is mentioned alongside Silicon Valley or when Indian MSMEs compete successfully in global markets, there's a direct lineage back to that room in 1949, where 15 entrepreneurs decided that small could be powerful. Looking forward: The next 75 years As India moves closer to its goal of a trillion-dollar digital economy, KASSIA finds itself once again at the forefront of transformation. The association that once had to convince people small industries mattered now operates in a context where MSMEs are recognised as the backbone of the country's economic growth. The question isn't whether KASSIA will remain relevant, but whether it can continue to anticipate the next big shift as successfully as it did in 1949. Given its track record of staying ahead of the curve, from early manufacturing advocacy to digital transformation, betting against KASSIA would be unwise. In an era where startup ecosystems get all the attention, KASSIA represents something more enduring: the patient, methodical work of building industrial foundations that last generations. That's not just g ood business — it's nation-building, one small enterprise at a time. The ET MSME Awards 2025 , which has IDBI Bank as banking and lending partner, is open for nominations. Put yourself up for consideration before August 31, 2025.
Time of India
25-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
ET MSME Awards 2025: Why every MSME should compete
Former merchant navy captain DC Sekhar never imagined that he'd one day be a go-to for municipal and state corporations with lots of cleaning up to do. Literally. Now the MD of Bengaluru-based green tech enterprise AlphaMERS, Sekhar has 15 proprietary, cost-effective solutions for India's oil and marine sectors. Floating barriers to collect trash? Check. Integrated containment and skimming systems for oil spill responses? Check. Wave energy converters and boats? Check. It's precisely for these innovations that AlphaMERS bagged the ET MSME Award in 2023 in the 'India's Top Innovative MSME - Micro' category. His may be a micro enterprise, but his macro leap for sustainability in India makes DC Sekhar—and others like him—an inspiration for thousands of Indian MSMEs whose stories deserve to be told. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Please select course: Select a Course Category PGDM MCA Artificial Intelligence CXO Project Management Data Analytics Public Policy Others Cybersecurity healthcare Operations Management Finance Digital Marketing Technology Management Leadership Healthcare Product Management others Design Thinking Data Science Degree MBA Data Science Skills you'll gain: Financial Analysis & Decision Making Quantitative & Analytical Skills Organizational Management & Leadership Innovation & Entrepreneurship Duration: 24 Months IMI Delhi Post Graduate Diploma in Management (Online) Starts on Sep 1, 2024 Get Details The annual ET MSME Awards have become the most prestigious platform for recognising the extraordinary achievements of Indian micro, small, and medium enterprises. But these awards aren't just for the already-successful. They're for one and all: the dreamers, the innovators, the job creators, and those who refuse to give up in the face of adversity. The beauty of the ET MSME Awards 2025 , powered by banking and lending partner IDBI Bank , lies in their inclusivity. Whether you're running a one-person digital marketing agency from your home or managing a 200-employee manufacturing unit, there's a category waiting for your story. Who's eligible? Live Events Manufacturing enterprises: If your annual turnover doesn't exceed ₹500 crore, you're in the game. This covers everyone from the local garment manufacturer that's gone commercial to the precision engineering firm supplying to automotive giants. Service enterprises: With turnover caps of ₹500 crore, this category welcomes IT startups, consulting firms, logistics companies, healthcare services, and countless other service providers driving India's economic engine. A three-, not four-year rule: Most categories require businesses to be operational for at least four years – enough time to show resilience, growth, and genuine impact. This isn't about overnight success stories, but about sustained excellence and perseverance. But here's where it gets interesting. The Awards accept three-year operationability and don't just look at size or revenue. They also celebrate innovation, export achievements, social impact, women entrepreneurship, rural enterprises, and even businesses that have made sustainability their core mission. Register for India's biggest MSME awards before August 31, 2025 Beyond the trophy: Why your business needs this recognition Ask any past winner of the ET MSME Awards , and they'll tell you the same thing: the real value isn't in the award itself, but in what comes after. Credibility that opens doors: When your business displays an ET MSME Award, any difficult conversations with potential clients and partners become much easier because the recognition serves as instant proof that industry experts have validated your excellence. Government contracts, corporate tie-ups, and international deals that seemed impossible become accessible. Consider this your master key that unlocks doors to opportunities that were previously reserved for larger, more established companies. Access to capital: Banks and investors pay attention to award-winning MSMEs. Recognition translates to reduced risk perception, better loan terms, and increased investor interest. Several winners report securing funding within months of their recognition. Networking goldmine: The awards ceremony isn't just a fancy dinner. It's where industry leaders, policymakers, and fellow entrepreneurs converge. One conversation at the event can change your business trajectory forever. Media spotlight: In today's oversaturated marketplace, getting noticed is half the battle won. Award winners receive media coverage that would otherwise cost lakhs and even crores in advertising spend. Talent magnet: Good employees want to work for recognised companies. Winners often find it easier to attract and retain quality talent. The categories that could be your stage The ET MSME Awards 2025 span 22 categories , ensuring every type of business excellence gets its moment: Overall Industry Awards (one each for Automobile & OEM, Pharma & Healthcare, Electrical & Electronics, and Clothing & Apparel) Indian MSME of the Year (one each for service, manufacturing, and trade sectors) Top Exporter of the Year Award (one each for service, manufacturing, and trade sectors) Top-performing Listed SME Indian MSME Women Entrepreneur of the Year (one each for micro, small, and medium enterprises) Indian MSME Enabler Award (one each for Tech & Innovation and Banking & Financing) India's Top Innovative MSME of the Year (one each for micro, small, and medium enterprises) India's Fastest-growing MSME (one each for micro, small, and medium enterprises) The stories behind the statistics Every nomination takes enterprises onwards and upwards. Take Suta, a previous winner of the ET MSME Awards. Founded by Sujata and Taniya Biswas in 2016, this fashion brand works with weavers across India's villages and textile hubs, turning their incredible handloom skills into gorgeous sarees, blouses, dresses, and lehengas that manage to be both timeless and wearable. The best part? More than eight years since the Biswas sisters founded it with a starting capital of ₹6 lakh, Suta is still bootstrapped, yet generated over ₹75 crore in revenue in FY 2024. Or take AVPL International, a winner at the ET MSME Awards 2024. In May this year, the drone manufacturing and training company got a green light from India's Directorate General of Civil Aviation ( DGCA ) to conduct drone pilot training for medium category drones. It has recently invested $1 million for the research and development of intelligent defence drones. These aren't exceptional cases. They're representative of what happens when good businesses get the recognition they deserve. Making your case: The nomination strategy The key to a winning nomination isn't just having a successful business. It's telling your story compellingly. The ET MSME Awards want to understand your journey, challenges, innovations, and impact. Document your journey: Collect and submit data on growth metrics, employment generation, innovation milestones, and community impact. Numbers tell stories, but context makes them compelling. Highlight uniqueness: What makes your business different? Is it your approach to customer service, innovative product design, sustainable practices, or contribution to skill development? Quantify impact: How many jobs have you created? What percentage of your revenue comes from exports? How has your innovation solved specific industry problems? The ET MSME Awards 2025 is looking for measurable impact. Show resilience: Every business faces challenges. How you've overcome obstacles, whether economic downturns, supply chain disruptions, or regulatory changes, demonstrates the grit that awards committees admire. The clock is ticking Registration windows for prestigious awards like these don't stay open forever. The early bird not only catches the worm, but often gets better evaluation consideration. Nomination processes require detailed documentation, financial statements, and sometimes site visits, all of which take time to organise properly. More importantly, the business landscape is increasingly competitive. Every day you delay is another day your competitors will prepare stronger applications. Beyond personal glory: The bigger picture When MSMEs win awards, it's not just individual businesses that benefit. Recognition brings visibility to entire sectors, regions, and business models. Your win could inspire other entrepreneurs in your industry or cluster. It contributes to the larger narrative of Indian entrepreneurship and innovation. The ET MSME Awards 2025 also provide valuable feedback and benchmarking opportunities. Even if you don't win, the nomination process forces you to evaluate your business objectively, identify areas for improvement, and set new growth targets. Your turn to shine Somewhere in India today is an entrepreneur working late into the night, convinced that recognition is for "other people's businesses". There's a manufacturer perfecting a process that could revolutionise their industry, but doubting whether anyone would notice. There's a service provider creating jobs in a small town, unaware that their model could be celebrated nationally. If any of this sounds familiar, the ET MSME Awards 2025 are calling your name. Your business needn't be perfect. It needs to be passionate, persistent, and purposeful. The ET MSME Awards recognise not just what you've achieved, but the potential of what you could become with the right platform and recognition. The question isn't whether you're good enough for the awards. The question is whether you're ready to let your success story inspire others and take your business to the next level. Don't let another year pass wondering "what if?". The stage is set, the spotlight is ready, and your story deserves to be told. Register for the ET MSME Awards 2025 today. Because every great business story started with someone brave enough to put themselves out there. For detailed eligibility criteria, category descriptions, and registration procedures, visit the official ET MSME Awards 2025 website . Registration deadlines approach faster than business opportunities. Secure your nomination before August 31, 2025.
