AIBI, in collaboration with BSE, NSE, and ICAI, hosted the 2nd Edition of SME Conclave in Kochi, Kerala

Kochi, April 28, 2025: The Apex body of Investment Bankers of India; AIBI, in collaboration with the National Stock Exchange (NSE), BSE (Bombay Stock Exchange), and the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI), organized the second edition of Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) Conclave in Kochi on 22nd April 2025 at Hotel Radisson Blu. The goal of this Conclave was to increase awareness about SME IPOs, opportunities and challenges.  
 
Ashwani Bhatia, Whole Time Member, Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) graced the event as the Chief Guest and shared his insights on the evolving SME ecosystem and regulatory support for capital formation. The conclave also featured a series of high-powered panel discussion with representatives from NSE, BSE, ICAI and AIBI. This discussion delved into critical and strategic aspects of the SME IPO journey, including market readiness, regulatory compliance, due diligence, and the role of intermediaries in nurturing credible SME listings. 
 
Themes discussed during the conclave included:  
 
•    Transparency and Disclosure in Indian Capital Market 
•    Success Factors for SMEs in Public Capital Markets 
•    Role of Merchant Banker in the journey to listing 
•    Opportunities for CA Professionals in Primary Markets. 
 
The Conclave bought together key stakeholders from the financial ecosystem — including Investment Bankers, Chartered Accountants, Company Secretaries, SME promoters, and policy influencers, to promote awareness, collaboration, and best practices in the SME capital market ecosystem. Some of the notable key dignitaries at the event were Deep Mani Shah – CGM, SEBI, Jitendra Kumar – GM, SEBI, Ankit Sharma – CRO, NSE, Dr. Milind Dalvi – CEO, AIBI, Radha Kirthivasan – Head Listing & SME, BSE, Venkatraghavan S. MD, Equirus Capital (Director, AIBI), CA. Babu Abraham Kallivayalil, Central Council Member, ICAI, Parvathi Moorthy – AVP, SME Business Development, NSE, CA. Durgesh Kumar Kabra, Chairman, CFMIP, ICAI, Alok Harlalka – MD, Gretex Corporate Services Ltd. and CA. Dayaniwas Sharma, Vice-Chairman, CFMIP, ICAI.  
 
Elaborating on significance of SMEs in the financial ecosystem of India, Dr. Milind Dalvi, CEO, AIBI said, “Our SME Conclave highlighted the critical importance of nurturing and supporting Small and Medium Enterprises, the backbone of India's economy. Through this initiative, we sought to create a platform for awareness, guidance, and empowerment, enabling SMEs to successfully navigate the complexities of regulatory compliance, financial management, and investor expectations, ultimately paving the way for successful public listings and sustained growth. AIBI endeavours to curate more such interactive events across regions to empower SMEs and help them elevate to the next level.”