Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): About 3,000 women delegates will take part in Global Investors Summit (GIS) to be held in the city on February 24-25. They include industrialists, investors and owners of MSMEs and startups. Prominent women participants are CEO of Parle Agro Schauna Chauhan, Vice-Chairman and Joint Managing Director Vardhman Textiles, Suchita Oswal, Deputy Country director, Asian Development Bank, Aarti Mehra, Co-founder and CEO of Sav, a fintech App from Dubai, Purvi Munot, Bina Trivedi, Partner ITI Growth Opportunities Fund, and Ishita Modi, Executive Director, Alesco Surgipharma Pvt Ltd.
About 22,000 delegates are expected to take part in two-day GIS organised by Madhya Pradesh Industrial Development Corporation Ltd. (MPIDC). They include those who represent MSME (10,000 plus), textile (2500), food processing (around 2500) and skill development (around 1200) units.
According to MPIDC officials, the state government is hopeful that state’s robust startup sector would persuade investors attending GIS to put their money in them. Almost half (47%) of 5,000 startups in the state are owned by women. These startups are spread all over 55 districts and employ over 50,000 people. With an investment exceeding Rs 53,000 crore, the state boasts of 16 lakh MSMEs, providing employment to 86 lakh people across the state.
MP is ranked seventh in the category of registered MSMEs. The MSMEs in the state are into food processing, drug manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, textiles, automobiles and engineering. The state also has Rs 10-crore Startup Capital Fund, providing both funding and mentorship to startups.
The government provides incentives to women entrepreneurs, and those from socially disadvantaged backgrounds to launch startups. “We welcome investors to set up businesses in MSME industrial clusters in the state and use the benefits and assistance that are part of the MSME policy package,” the official said, adding, “GIS is not only about investment but also about ideation and thus becoming active contributors to the state’s growth story. This is the path to explore infinite possibilities the state has to offer.”
