MSME Ministry Holds National Seminar at IIT Madras to Boost Digital Commerce and Global Market Access

On August 20 in Chennai, the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) via its MSME Development & Facilitation Office (DFO) in Chennai hosted a national seminar at IIT Madras aimed at boosting Indian MSMEs’ export readiness and expanding their reach in both domestic and global markets through digital commerce.

Titled “From Local to Global: Enabling Export-Ready MSMEs through Digital Commerce,” the seminar took place on August 18, organized together with the Entrepreneurship Cell of IIT Madras. It gathered MSMEs, entrepreneurs, students, policymakers, financial institutions, export ecosystem stakeholders, and digital commerce experts to explore practical strategies for reaching broader markets using technology and digital platforms.

During the opening session, Praveen Yadav, Additional Chief Secretary of the MSME Department, Government of Tamil Nadu, noted that digital commerce is reshaping how MSMEs enter global markets by eliminating geographic obstacles. He emphasized the importance of enhanced Centre-State collaboration to foster an enabling environment that boosts the global competitiveness of small enterprises.

Prof. Manu Santhanam, Dean of IC&SR at IIT Madras, stressed that innovation and academia‑industry partnerships are vital for MSMEs to create new products and technologies. He added that tighter connections between industry and academia can help firms enhance productivity, innovation, and competitiveness.

Hansraj Verma, Director General of the Council of State Industrial Development & Investment Corporation of India, pointed out that quality continues to be a crucial determinant of competitiveness for Indian firms in both domestic and international arenas. He also highlighted the rising significance of digitisation in enabling MSMEs to broaden their customer base.

The keynote speech was given by Dhayalan, Director and Head of MSME DFO Chennai, who also honored the distinguished guests. Reshma Rajeevan, Deputy Director of MSME DFO Chennai, presented the welcome address and underscored the necessity of stronger support systems to aid MSMEs in moving from domestic markets to international opportunities.

The technical sessions addressed various facets of export readiness such as export procedures, trade finance, risk mitigation, market identification, international payments, regulatory compliance, digital onboarding, and leveraging e‑commerce platforms for global market access. Officials and experts from the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), EXIM Bank, ECGC, IIT Madras, and the export and e‑commerce consulting sector shared actionable insights with attendees.

The seminar was conducted under the Procurement & Marketing Support (PMS) Scheme of the Ministry of MSME. National workshops and seminars constitute the scheme’s capacity‑building activities designed to raise MSME awareness regarding market access, packaging, import‑export procedures, e‑commerce platforms, and other developments that facilitate market expansion.

The program additionally provided students and aspiring entrepreneurs with a chance to learn about emerging opportunities in digital commerce, entrepreneurship, and international trade.

This initiative underscores the Ministry of MSME’s ongoing commitment to enhancing market access, digital adoption, and export readiness for Indian enterprises. By linking MSMEs with experts, institutions, and the broader export ecosystem, the seminar aimed to advance the wider goal of guiding Indian businesses “From Local to Global.”