CICU Hosts CGTMSE’s 25th Anniversary Finance & Credit Guarantee Workshop for MSEs in Ludhiana

Ludhiana, March 01, 2025: In celebration of the Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises (CGTMSE) completing 25 years of service, the Chamber of Industrial and Commercial Undertakings (CICU) hosted a Finance & Credit Guarantee Workshop for Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) in Ludhiana. The event, organized in partnership with the India SME Accelerator Network (ISAN), attracted over 80 participants from the local MSE community, including entrepreneurs, bankers, and industry professionals.

Held at the CICU’s Sohan Lal Pahwa Auditorium, Focal Point Complex, the workshop provided MSEs with essential insights into accessing finance, navigating credit guarantee schemes, and overcoming the financial challenges that often impede their growth. CGTMSE, which has supported over 1 crore guarantees, remains a cornerstone of India’s MSE financing ecosystem, especially for businesses struggling with collateral requirements for loans.

The event was designed to address the unique financial hurdles faced by micro and small enterprises, offering practical tools and resources to help them thrive. Key panellists included prominent industry experts such as Rajan Gupta from SIDBI, Rohit Goyal from NSIC, Raman Kumar from Bank of Baroda, Ravi Mitra from Invoicemart, Honey Sethi, General Secretary of CICU, and Shalini Dabholkar from ISAN. Together, they explored financing options, the importance of credit guarantees, and the role of financial institutions in supporting the growth of small businesses.

Rohit Dabholkar, CEO of ISAN, expressed his excitement about the collaboration, saying, “We are thrilled to work with CGTMSE as they celebrate 25 years of fostering MSE growth across India. This workshop marks a significant step towards empowering MSEs through finance, ensuring greater financial inclusion.”

The event also featured case studies from successful MSEs, demonstrating how access to finance and credit guarantees has enabled them to overcome financial barriers and scale their operations. Through this collaborative effort, CGTMSE and ISAN aim to strengthen India’s MSE sector and ensure small businesses continue to drive the country’s economic growth.

CGTMSE’s continued focus on promoting financial inclusion for MSEs is essential as many small businesses struggle to secure capital and meet stringent collateral requirements. Through workshops like this, CGTMSE is building a more inclusive financial ecosystem that supports growth, innovation, and success for India’s micro and small enterprises.