The numbers from Nagpur's recent industrial trade fairs in early 2025 tell a compelling story: over 300 MSMEs participated, hundreds of business inquiries poured in, and substantial orders materialised on the spot. For Subhash Ingewar, Assistant Director of the MSME Development and Facilitation Office, Nagpur, these results validate what he calls the "immense potential for growth" in India’s Orange City.
Speaking at the ET Make in India SME Regional Summit - Nagpur on July 24, Ingewar outlined an ambitious government support framework designed to capitalise on this momentum and position Nagpur as a key driver of India's ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ vision. Ingewar delivered a keynote titled ‘Opportunities in 'Orange City': Vision for MSME-led Growth in Nagpur and Beyond’.
IDBI was the banking and lending partner, and Canon was the tech enabler for the summit.
The ₹30 crore cluster push
At the heart of the government's strategy lies the MSME Cluster Development Scheme, offering up to ₹30 crore in funding for common facility centres and infrastructure development. The economics are compelling for manufacturers: Special Purpose Vehicles need to contribute just 5-10% of project costs, while the government provides the remaining 80-90%.
This funding mechanism addresses one of the most persistent challenges facing MSME clusters: the inability to invest in shared infrastructure and modern facilities that could enhance their collective competitiveness.
Breaking export barriers
One of the more innovative support measures targets a seemingly mundane but crucial requirement: barcodes. While cheaper alternatives exist in the market, Ingewar emphasised the strategic importance of GS1 India barcodes, which cost ₹70,000-80,000 but are internationally readable and essential for export markets.
"The GS1 barcode is required for exporting to many countries. It's a one-time investment with long-term benefits," he explained in his opening keynote at the ET SME Summit in Nagpur, announcing that the Ministry now reimburses up to 80% of these costs, which works to ₹50,650 per enterprise.
This subsidy directly addresses the export readiness gap that has long prevented smaller manufacturers from accessing global markets due to compliance and certification costs.
Quality and environmental standards
The Zero Defect Zero Effect (ZED) certification programme represents another pillar of the government's approach, promoting both manufacturing quality and environmental responsibility. With bronze, silver, and gold-level certifications available, enterprises can access 60-80% reimbursement of certification costs.
This initiative reflects a broader shift toward positioning Indian MSMEs not just as low-cost manufacturers, but as providers of quality, environmentally-responsible products that can compete in premium global markets.
Tackling the payments crisis
Perhaps the most relevant support comes through the upgraded Samadhaan portal, designed to address the chronic issue of delayed payments that plague MSMEs across India. The platform allows enterprises to file complaints about ..
Recent upgrades to the portal's interface and features signal the government's recognition that cash flow problems often pose existential threats to smaller manufacturers, regardless of their underlying business viability.
The Gadkari effect
Throughout his address, Ingewar credited Union Minister Nitin Gadkari's leadership for creating momentum in the region. The trade fairs organised under Gadkari's guidance in January and February this year provided validation of local manufacturing capabilities and market demand.
The success of these events — 175 industries receiving stall charge reimbursements and generating substantial business inquiries — has become a template for future market dev ..
From support to self-reliance
Underlying all these programmes is a broader vision of transforming government support from dependency-creating subsidies to capability-building investments. Ingewar framed the initiatives within the larger ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ movement, describing it as more than a slogan.
"With new ideas, concepts, startups, and innovations, we are on a path to reduce import dependency and create a proud, self-sufficient India," he declared, positioning ..
For Nagpur's manufacturers, the government's comprehensive support framework represents both an opportunity and a challenge. The funding, subsidies, and facilitation mechanisms are in place, but success will ultimately depend on how effectively local enterprises can leverage these resources to build genuine competitive advantages.
The industrial trade fair results suggest that strong market demand exists. Now, with targeted financial support addressing specific pain points from barcodes to delayed payments, Nagpur's MSMEs have the tools needed to transform potential into performance.
As Ingewar concluded his address at the ET Make in India SME Regional Summit - Nagpur, the message was clear: the government is creating an enabling environment. The next chapter of the city’s industrial story will be written by entrep ..
The ET Make in India SME Regional Summits, ET MSME Day, and ET MSME Awards are flagship initiatives to celebrate the versatility and success of India’s MSME sector. If you lead or are part of a micro, small, or medium enterprise, register for the ET MSME Awards 2025 before August 31, 2025.
Source Name : Economic Times