• ICAI empowers MSMEs and Startups through financial expertise, regulatory guidance, and strategic handholding-fueling India's journey towards Viksit Bharat 2047
• The event will bring together 3000+ MSMEs, entrepreneurs, startups, investors, policymakers and innovators on one platform
• ICAI will support 25,000 MSMEs through its 179 branches nationwide, setting a new benchmark in grassroots empowerment and professional engagement.

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI), the largest professional body of Chartered Accountants in the world inaugurated the MSME & Startup Conclave 2025 today at Sahara Star, Mumbai. The theme of the event was "FATHOM" which stands for the six foundational pillars of MSME success: Finance, Accounting, Tech Support, Human Resources, Operations and Marketing.

The event was inaugurated by Shri Jitan Ram Manjhi, Hon'ble Union Minister for MSME along with CA Suresh Prabhu, Former Union Minister, Chancellor Rishihood University, in the presence of CA. Charanjot Singh Nanda, President, ICAI; CA. Prasanna Kumar D, Vice President, ICAI, CA Gyan Chandra Misra, Chairman, Committee on MSME & Startups, ICAI, CA. Arpit Jagdish Kabra, Vice-Chairman, Committee on MSME & Startups, ICAI; Central Council Members and Regional Council Members of ICAI.

The event brought together policymakers, industry experts, Chartered Accountants and aspiring entrepreneurs towards collaborative growth, innovation and promoting sustainable business practices within India’s vibrant MSME and startup ecosystem.

During the inaugural, Shri Jitan Ram Manjhi, Hon'ble Union Minister for MSME, Government of India said, "Regulation is the foundation of sustainable and inclusive growth. Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji, the MSME sector is playing a defining role in building an Aatma Nirbhar Bharat. With over 30% contribution to GDP and unmatched employment generation after agriculture, MSMEs are at the heart of India's economic engine. Chartered Accountants, as custodians of financial discipline, will be critical partners in guiding MSMEs through compliance, innovation and expansion. I firmly believe that the collaboration between ICAI and the MSME Ministry will unlock unprecedented opportunities for entrepreneurship, job creation, and national prosperity as we move towards the goal of Viksit Bharat by 2047".

On this occasion, CA. Suresh Prabhu, Former Union Minister, Chancellor Rishihood University, highlighted the pivotal role MSMEs and Startups play in the Indian economy, stating, "You cannot have a developed India without developed MSMEs. They are the backbone of innovation, the highest contributors to employment & exports and the key to inclusive growth. The biggest challenge before India today is job creation and only MSMEs can deliver on that. ICAI has played a pivotal role in shaping the country’s socio-economic landscape, and I urge ICAI to lead in building sustainable MSME supply chains that power both industry and environment".

The event will bring together policymakers, industry leaders, Chartered Accountants, and entrepreneurs to drive dialogue on funding access, digital transformation, regulatory compliance and team scaling.

During the presidential address, CA. Charanjot Singh Nanda, President, ICAI, said, "From a humble beginning of 1,700 members to becoming the largest accounting body in the world, ICAI’s journey reflects India's growing global presence. Today, as we touch 25,000 MSMEs across our 179 branches, we are not just handholding businesses, we are strengthening the backbone of the Indian economy. Tomorrow, in the presence of the Hon’ble President of India, ICAI will sign a landmark MoU with NSIC to further our commitment to the MSME sector".

CA. Prasanna Kumar D, Vice-President, ICAI, in his address, emphasized, "Chartered Accountants have a pivotal role in handholding these enterprises by formalizing, mentoring, and enabling them through financial guidance and policy awareness. ICAI’s sustained initiatives, MSME Yatra - 100 Days, 100 Cities campaign to the upcoming weekly MSME Clinics across 179 branches, reaffirm our commitment to empower MSMEs as we collectively work toward making India a developed nation by 2047".

On the occasion CA. Gyan Chandra Misra, Chairman, Committee on MSME & Startups, ICAI said "MSMEs are the backbone of our economy, our strength, our pride and our largest source of employment. On the eve of International MSME Day, ICAI has pledged to handhold at least one lakh MSMEs across 179 branches in a single day. This is not just a symbolic act, but a national movement to educate, empower, and elevate MSMEs to the front row of India's growth story. With collective dedication and consistent effort, we can make India an economic superpower".

The two-day event will witness panel discussions on topics like on Government Initiatives towards MSME & Startup Ecosystem, Bridging the Financing the Gap-Role of Contemporary Funding Sources for Successful MSMEs & Startups and more. The event will also have Fireside Chats & Keynotes, MSME Clinics (1:1 Real-Time Advisory) and Startup Pitch Platform - 3P: Pitch | Pivot | Prosper with Mentoring Interactions. The conclave will be a knowledge-sharing platform, offering valuable networking opportunities for future collaborations.

In its continued efforts to support MSME and Startup sectors, ICAI has actively engaged in policy advocacy, knowledge dissemination, and capacity-building initiatives. ICAI remains committed to enabling emerging businesses to navigate the regulatory landscape, access capital, adopt digital tools, and build strong governance frameworks.

About ICAI

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) is a statutory body set up by an Act of Parliament under the Chartered Accountants Act, 1949 for the regulation and development of the profession of Chartered Accountancy in India. The Institute functions under the administrative supervision of the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, Government of India. With over 14 Lakh Members and Students, today ICAI is the largest professional accountancy body in the world. ICAI has a wide network of 5 Regional Councils and 179 Branches within India and a global presence with 54 Overseas Chapters and 31 Representative Offices spanning 85 cities across 47 Countries worldwide.