Aligned with MSME Day, Nasscom Foundation signed a flagship Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Maharashtra Small Scale Industries Development Corporation Ltd. (MSSIDC), Government of Maharashtra. The collaboration aims to drive a large-scale capacity building program focused on strengthening the competitiveness and sustainability of 15,000 Udyam-registered micro and small entrepreneurs across the state with special focus on empowering women entrepreneurs. Nasscom Foundation will work closely with MSSIDC officials and the KPMG-led State Program Implementation Unit to strengthen the capacities of these micro entrepreneurs.
The initiative will be implemented under the Raising and Accelerating MSME Performance (RAMP) Programme, supported by the World Bank. It focuses on women entrepreneurs across key sectors such as energy efficiency, textiles, coir, handicrafts, renewable energy, manufacturing, waste management, and ODOP industries, enabling them with better access to digital tools, finance, and information.
Through this project, Nasscom Foundation will deliver a structured capacity-building program focused on three critical areas. Awareness and training on the (Intellectual Property Rights) IPR Scheme for MSMEs, guidance on loans and digital loan application processes, and financial knowledge and management. The initiative is designed not just to inform but to equip entrepreneurs with practical tools they need to formalize their businesses, access credit, and scale sustainably.
Jyoti Sharma, CEO, Nasscom Foundation, emphasizing on the need for this initiative in today’s business landscape commented, “Our MSMEs don’t lack ideas, they often just lack access. This partnership with Maharashtra Small Scale Industries Development Corporation is about changing that. By offering targeted capacity building, we are not only supporting the entrepreneurs especially the women entrepreneurs, understand policies and processes but giving them the tools to build stronger, more resilient businesses. It’s a step toward making India’s MSME sector truly inclusive, digitally equipped, and globally competitive.”
Prashali Jadhav Dighavkar, Joint Managing Director, Maharashtra Small Scale Industries Development Corporation Ltd., said, “Strengthening MSMEs is central to driving Maharashtra’s economic growth, and Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) are a critical part of that journey. By building awareness about IPR across the state, we aim to equip small-scale industries with the knowledge and tools they need to protect their innovations and scale sustainably. These joint efforts are not just about legal awareness—they are about fostering innovation, encouraging ideation, and enabling the incubation of new businesses and entrepreneurial ventures that will shape the future of Maharashtra’s MSME ecosystem.”
While MSMEs form the backbone of India’s economy, they continue to face systemic challenges such as informal operations, limited access to credit, lack of awareness about government schemes, and weak digital adoption. This program addresses these challenges by offering entrepreneurs clarity, capability, and connection. By focusing on practical knowledge, scalable delivery, and strong government collaboration, this initiative aims to build a stronger, more future-ready MSME ecosystem in Maharashtra—and eventually, across India.
