Today, who in India, or for that matter in 15 other countries around the world where it operates, does not know Bharti Airtel and its founder, chairperson and a “significant beneficial shareholder,” Sunil Bharti Mittal. We know him as one of the tallest first-generation business leaders today. Forbes estimates his net worth as USD 15 Billion.
Fortunes change
But, for a minute, imagine that we are reading this in 1995, when Mittal’s Bharti Televentures had introduced a cellular service in Delhi under the Airtel brand.
Except if we had interest in the product or service, would we bat an eyelid? Would we waste more time reading about what yet another MSME was doing? After all, there are millions of them, 5.93 crore at last count registered with the ministry. And perhaps many others not registered.
Or, in 1984 when Bharti Telecom started assembly of push-button phones in India, till then imported, in collaboration with Siemens of Germany.
Or, in 1976, when Bharti Enterprises came into existence and started making bicycles in the name of Bharti Enterprises then registered as “a small scale manufacturing unit for bicycle components.”
What is an MSME?
This is how the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises defines MSMEs:
| Rs. in crores | Micro | Small | Medium |
| Investment in Plant and Machinery or Equipment does not exceed | 1 | 10 | 50 |
| Turnover does not exceed | 5 | 50 | 250 |
Are you where Sunil Bharti Mittal was in 1976, 1984 or 1995?
Times change. Fortunes change.
Luck may have a role but mostly it is the vision, drive, work-ethic, execution, and perhaps many other factors that make once a MSME a global corporate.
If you are running an MSME, you have already done most of the hard work. You have a product (or a service), you have a group of customers and you have a production facility or system. Your efforts support not only your family and other dependents, they also create jobs and add to the national GDP. Enhanced government support is a recognition of the nation-building role played by MSMEs.
Our national ambition is to have USD 30 Trillion by 2047 and be a developed country i.e. Viksit Bharat. MSMEs of today have an opportunity to grow manifold by expanding market to national and international and develop new innovative products. In the process, you will create much needed jobs for fellow Indians and contribute to nation building.
Do you dream to be someday where Sunil Bharti Mittal is today?
If you have an ambition to grow, join us at MSME Mahotsav at Ashok Hotel New Delhi on April 23-24.