SURAT ROUND UP

Organised by Reliance Capital Finance, FISME and SDRC, the eighth edition of India SME Forum took place on 6th October 2012 in The Gateway Hotel, Surat in the presence of 190 SMEs from and around Surat.
The Welcome Session started with Mr. Paresh Patel President, SGCCI welcoming the SMEs present and illustrating the need of the hour to educate and support the SMEs, emphasizing the strengths of the SMEs sector. Mr. Vinod Kumar, Country Manager SDRC, & Secretary, Jury Board, ISF presented a vote of thanks.
The first session about Branding and Technology had illustrious speakers, Mr. Prahlad Kakar, Brand & Advertising Guru, Mr. Shashi Ravulapaty, CTO, Reliance Capital and Mr. Vishal Parmar, GM Vodafone Business Services, Vodafone West Ltd. The session was marked with warm notes and exchanges of highly relevant information to SMEs. During the Q&A, on a query of SMEs still affected by problems like logistics, approvals, registrations and infrastructure, Mr. Prahlad Kakar requested the SMEs that, the solution was in SMEs getting united via this forum and form a lobby which can raise these issues. Further he suggested that SMEs can be louder and effective in raising their issues by getting united as that shall make them powerful as their united turnover would itself be a big enough number for any government to take notice.
In the next session on Funding, panelists Mr. Venkatesh Kannappan, National Sales Manager, SME & Healthcare, Reliance Commercial Finance; Mr. Ravi Tyagi, Head SME Project, National Stock Exchange; Mr. Manish Bhatt, VP & Head IPO at Primary Markets, Prabhudas Lilladher P. Ltd and Mr. Jagannadham Thunguntla, Chief Strategist & Head of Research, SMC Global Securities Ltd focused on financing of SMEs, through an in depth discussion about Raising Funds from IPOs, Debt Funding, Venture Capital/ Seed Funding /Growth Capital etc and Fiscal Discipline & Ratings.
Mr. Jagannadham Thunguntla, Chief Strategist & Head of Research, SMC Global Securities Ltd gave a bird’s eye view of the Indian economy and compared India’s growth story with Salman Khan’s marriage which is always expected and highly due, but never take place. He regaled the audience with interesting mix of to do’s/do not do’s interspersed with well researched figures and implored the SMEs to create bigger & better growth stories on the national and international scene.
Mr. Vinod Kumar, Senior Partner, SDRC India, moderator of the session discussed various case studies about the SMEs who have been successful or been able to make a difference.
Select participants were gifted with tickets of Go Air and watches from Reliance Capital Finance based on lucky draws.
The Forum was well attended with over 190 participants from IT, Diamond, Textile and other manufacturing sectors.