Vice-President C. P. Radhakrishnan attended the International MSME Day 2026 celebrations at Dr. Ambedkar International Centre in New Delhi, according to the Press Information Bureau. At the event, he addressed entrepreneurs and officials and launched a set of digital initiatives linked to the Ministry of MSME.
The Vice-President described Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises as central to India’s economic journey. He used the occasion to speak about enterprise growth, product quality, access to finance, registration of MSMEs and the use of new technology, including Artificial Intelligence.
Vice-President recalls his business experience
In his address, Shri Radhakrishnan referred to his own early experience as an entrepreneur. He said that after graduation he began a small garment business with financial support from his father. He recalled that the initial years brought difficulties, but said perseverance, learning and hard work helped him build a knitwear export business before he moved into public life.
He asked young entrepreneurs not to lose confidence because of early constraints. His advice to them was to keep learning their trade and remain committed to their work. He also spoke about his time as Chairman of the Coir Board, saying he entered the role with limited knowledge of the sector and had to study the industry closely.
According to the PIB release, the Vice-President said working closely with exporters and setting ambitious targets helped the coir sector achieve strong growth during that period. “If you decide to achieve something, work hard and learn everything about your field, success will certainly follow,” he said.
Quality and growth of small businesses
A key part of the speech focused on quality standards. Shri Radhakrishnan said cost reduction should not come at the expense of quality. He told entrepreneurs that business success depends on lowering costs while maintaining better quality and services than competitors.
He also called for more movement within the MSME sector. He said micro enterprises should aim to become small enterprises, while small enterprises should grow into medium enterprises. He added that entrepreneurs who begin as cottage industries should not remain at the same level throughout their working lives.
The Vice-President linked this growth to investment, policy support and easier access to finance. He urged the Ministry of MSME to encourage universal registration of MSMEs, saying wider registration would improve data quality and help policy makers understand the sector’s actual needs more clearly.
AI and human-centred entrepreneurship
Referring to this year’s United Nations theme, “Human-Centered Entrepreneurship in an AI-Driven Future,” the Vice-President said technological change should be treated as an opportunity. He recalled earlier concerns about the introduction of computers and said technology eventually created new employment opportunities.
He expressed confidence that Artificial Intelligence could also open new avenues for growth if it is adopted constructively. The PIB release did not list any specific AI programme launched at the event, but the Vice-President’s remarks placed AI within the broader discussion on MSME readiness and future skills.
Portals and initiatives launched
At the event, the Vice-President launched the PMEGP 2.0 Portal, Samadhaan 2.0 Portal, Procurement and Marketing Support (PMS) 2.0 Portal, MSME Global Mart 2.0 Portal and Testing Centre Portal. He also launched the multilingual enablement initiative of the Ministry of MSME.
The MSME Idea Hackathon 6.0 was also launched. In addition, the Vice-President released e-books on the Self-Reliant India (SRI) Fund and the PM Vishwakarma (PMV) Scheme.
Shri Radhakrishnan felicitated the National Small Industries Corporation (NSIC) on its elevation to Schedule ‘A’ Company. He also launched new products of the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC).
Speaking about KVIC, he said the organisation had brought changes in areas such as honey production and khadi garments. He said khadi draws inspiration from Gandhian ideals, but must keep adapting to consumer preferences and technological changes to remain competitive.
Source: Press Information Bureau, Government of India.