CII Conclave Charts Roadmap for Strengthening Northeast MSMEs

The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) hosted the North East MSME Conclave 2026 in Guwahati on July 22, bringing together policymakers, financial regulators, industry experts and business leaders to deliberate on measures that can accelerate the growth of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) across the Northeast.

Held under the theme "Unlocking the Region's Entrepreneurial Potential," the conclave underscored the need for greater formalisation, digital integration and collaborative financial frameworks to build a resilient industrial ecosystem.

Welcoming the participants, Mukesh Nankani, Vice-Chairman of the CII Assam State Council and Chief Airport Officer of Guwahati International Airport Ltd., highlighted the Northeast's strategic role as India's gateway for MSME expansion and its immense entrepreneurial potential.

Delivering the inaugural address, Satinder Kumar Bhalla, ITS, Secretary, North Eastern Council (NEC), outlined initiatives aligned with the vision of Viksit North East 2047. He highlighted the launch of a free digital compliance portal, developed in collaboration with the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) and SIDBI, aimed at simplifying regulatory compliance and assisting micro enterprises with timely reminders.

Speaking on financial inclusion, Sushmita Phukan, Regional Director, Reserve Bank of India (RBI), emphasised the importance of expanding formal credit access for MSMEs. She outlined RBI's ongoing initiatives, including enhancement of the collateral-free loan limit to ₹20 lakh, promotion of cash flow-based credit appraisal and strengthening of the Trade Receivables Discounting System (TReDS).

Atul Rathi, Chief General Manager, State Bank of India (SBI), highlighted the bank's technology-driven approach to improving credit access, while G. Ramesh Kumar, Chief General Manager, NABARD, announced a ₹10,000 crore rural infrastructure disbursement target for the current financial year.

The conclave witnessed participation from over 100 stakeholders, with technical sessions focusing on access to capital, regulatory alignment and sustainable growth for MSMEs in the Northeast.