The Bengal Chamber of Commerce & Industry organised the 'Financial Awareness Conclave: Transforming MSMEs through Finance' on 14 June, 2024 at The Bengal Chamber premises.

MSMEs often find it hard to expand their business due to limited connections leading to a limited means to promote themselves, limited resources to run and grow their businesses, lack of affordable working capital and want of information which is reliable, affordable and easily available at the time of need. The Conclave thus focused on Transforming MSMEs through Finance, Leveraging Insurance for Business Growth, Trade & Supply Chain Finance and Capital Market. The Conclave explored the various advantages the MSMEs are equipped with, but not usually known to them.

The Guests of Honour were Dr. Subhransu Sekhar Acharya, Chairman-Cum-Managing Director, The National Small Industries Corporation Ltd. and Mr. Sudatta Mandal, Deputy Managing Director, SIDBI.

Dr. Acharya, in his Keynote Address mentioned in detail how NSIC provides support for Marketing, Technology, Financial assistance and other allied services for the MSMEs to grow and develop. 

SIDBI has also been instrumental in handholding MSMEs in skilling, entrepreneurial guidance, technology modernization and acquiring funds. Guest of Honour, Mr. Mandal in his Inaugural Address threw light on various schemes, products and programmes that are available for the benefit of the MSMEs.

The other eminent speakers were Ms. Arti Bhushan Mulik, Chief Technical Officer, Universal Sompo General Insurance Co. Ltd. and Member, National Committee on Banking & Finance, BCC&I, Mr. Sanjay Sethi, Assistant Vice President- Distribution Strategy & Initiatives, Tata AIA Life Insurance Co. Ltd.,Mr. Anunay Kumar Jha, CGM & Zonal Head, IDBI Bank, Mr. Kalyan Mukherjee, GM (Circle Head), Canara Bank, Mr. Rajeev Kumar, DGM & Zonal Manager, Bank of Maharashtra, Mr. Rajnish Kumar, DGM-SME, State Bank of India, Ms. Anuradha Manna, Secretary, Pension and Group Schemes, LIC of India, Mr. Subir Talukdar, Deputy General Manager, The New India Assurance Co. Ltd., Mr. Anirudha Barooah, AGM & Regional Head, India EXIM Bank and Mr. Gaurav Kaushik, Regional Head, East, Multi Commodity Exchange of India Ltd. (MCX India).