1 hr ago

MSMEs Eye Export Growth and Government Marketplace Opportunities

Small businesses can grow by selling to customers outside India.

They can also sell to government buyers through the Government e-Marketplace, or GeM.

Selling abroad requires good quality, correct paperwork and dependable delivery.

Businesses may need registrations such as IEC and GST.

GeM gives small businesses another way to find institutional buyers.

However, simply joining GeM does not guarantee success.

Companies must understand buyer needs and calculate all their costs before bidding.

The main lesson is that strong systems and careful planning help businesses grow sustainably.

Key facts

Export requirements: Quality, consistency, documentation, compliance and timely delivery.
Trade systems: IEC and GST registrations, ICEGATE and DGFT systems were identified as relevant to digital export processes.
GeM registrations: More than 12 lakh micro and small enterprises were highlighted as registered on GeM.
GeM procurement: Public procurement on GeM was reported as exceeding ₹5 lakh crore in FY 2025-26.
MSME participation: Micro and small enterprises accounted for 68% of orders, while around 45% of procurement value went to MSMEs.
Pricing lesson: Businesses were advised to account for production, overhead, logistics and delivery costs before bidding.

theprint.in · 1 hr ago