NDTV hosted the much-anticipated Emerging Business Conclave, a landmark event dedicated to empowering India’s burgeoning entrepreneurial ecosystem. With a focus on small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and emerging businesses, the conclave brought together influential voices from the government, industry, and academia to spotlight challenges, propose actionable solutions, and foster partnerships aimed at sustainable growth.

The conclave underscored the pivotal role of SMEs and emerging businesses in India’s economy, drawing attention to their immense potential to position the nation as a global hub for entrepreneurship and innovation. Held in the heart of the capital, the event attracted a stellar lineup of speakers and industry experts, making it a unique platform for dialogue and collaboration, the news network said in a press release.

The conclave featured notable leaders, including Jitan Ram Manjhi, Minister of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises; Jayant Chaudhary, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Skill Development & Entrepreneurship; Dr. Arvind Panagariya, Chairman of the 16th Finance Commission; and industry luminaries like Kirthiga Reddy, Founder & CEO of Virtualness, and Rajnish Kumar, Chairman of Mastercard. Other prominent speakers included Ranganath Sadasiva, CTO of HP Enterprises; Dilip Chenoy, Chairman of Bharat Web3 Association; Anna Roy, Senior Advisor at NITI Aayog; and Dr. Shamika Ravi, Member of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister.

In his keynote address, Jitan Ram Manjhi highlighted the significant contribution of the MSME sector to India’s economy. “After agriculture, MSMEs are the largest contributors to income and employment in India, accounting for 30.1 percent of the GDP, 35.4 percent of the manufacturing output, and 45.73 percent of exports,” he stated, emphasizing the sector’s crucial role in shaping India’s economic future.

Jayant Chaudhary stressed the importance of making skilling aspirational, particularly for those working within the MSME sector. “We are re-engineering our skilling ecosystem to make it more market-oriented, focusing on creating excitement around skill development for individuals aged 15 to 45,” he said, outlining the government’s vision for an inclusive skilling strategy.

Dr. Arvind Panagariya added depth to the conversation by addressing the interplay between skill development and capital investment. “Skill education is essential, but practical learning happens on the job. Without adequate capital, there’s no incentive for workers to upskill, particularly in ecosystems lacking robust financial support,” he remarked.

The conclave also featured insightful commentary from Mandeep Singh, Revenue Head – TV, NDTV, who described the initiative as a celebration of India’s entrepreneurial spirit. “Indian small businesses are the heartbeat of our nation’s economic growth and resilience. This conclave brought together visionaries and changemakers shaping the future. Going forward, we aim to launch regional chapters of this initiative,” he said, underscoring NDTV’s commitment to fostering a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Through expert-led discussions, collaborative sessions, and keynote addresses, the event provided participants with actionable insights on navigating a rapidly evolving economic landscape. It focused on key themes, including the integration of advanced technologies, access to funding, and skilling strategies tailored for SMEs.

The NDTV Emerging Business Conclave successfully created a platform for robust dialogue, offering a roadmap for India’s entrepreneurial future. By aligning industry stakeholders and policymakers, the conclave reaffirmed its role in catalyzing growth for the nation’s economic backbone—its SMEs and emerging businesses.