New Delhi, September 23, 2026: The Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India (EDII), Ahmedabad, inaugurated a two-day International Conference on ‘Empowering MSMEs to Lead the Industry 5.0 Transition’ on September 23-24, 2026, supported by the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Government of India. The conference was inaugurated on September 23, 2026 in the presence of Chief Guest Ms. Mercy Epao, Joint Secretary, Ministry of MSME, Government of India & EDII Governing Board Member; Ms. Kshipra Agre, IAS, Commissioner, MSME (Industries & Mines Dept.), Government of Gujarat; Shri Aman Samir, IAS, Director (MSME), Department of Industries,Government of Bihar and Dr. Sunil Shukla, Director General, EDII.
The conference aims to provide a platform for policymakers, industry leaders, entrepreneurs, experts, academia and other stakeholders to deliberate on the evolving role of MSMEs in the Industry 5.0 transition, with a focus on technologyadoption, innovation and sustainability.
Addressing the gathering, Ms. Mercy Epao, Joint Secretary, Ministry of MSME, Government of India said, “MSMEs are the key to growth for any nation. They have to be nurtured through enabling policies and a supportive ecosystem toensure their growth, which ultimately contributes to the growth of the national economy. As the world moves towards Industry 5.0, it is important for MSMEs to understand and embrace emerging technologies while keeping people, sustainability and resilienceat the centre of their growth. I am sure this conference will serve as a crucial platform for sharing best practices, exploring new opportunities and building meaningful associations, leading to a strong foundation for the growth and competitiveness of MSMEs.”
Ms. Kshipra Agre, IAS, Commissioner, MSME (Industries & Mines Dept.), Government of Gujarat, said, “Entrepreneurial proficiency is a key factor for MSME entrepreneurs aiming to contribute significantly to economic growth. A higherentrepreneurial quotient among entrepreneurs strengthens the business ecosystem and creates a resilient and sustainable model for growth. This conference is a significant step towards creating knowledge infrastructure in the domain of MSMEs and Industry 5.0.This initiative will facilitate experience sharing and mutual learning.”
Shri Aman Samir, IAS, Director (MSME), Department of Industries, Government of Bihar said, “The transition towards Industry 5.0 presents significant opportunities for MSMEs to enhance their productivity, competitiveness and resilience.It is important to create greater awareness about emerging technologies and facilitate their adoption by enterprises, particularly those seeking to scale and integrate into the evolving value chains. The conference is planned well to provide an opportunityfor policymakers, industry and entrepreneurs to exchange experiences and identify practical and scalable approaches.”
Dr. Sunil Shukla, Director General, EDII, expressing his opinion, said, “MSMEs have come to play a vital role in the development of economies across countries. India has several beneficial MSME-related schemes and policies and isconstantly seeking to institute ways and means to strengthen the sector. The transition to Industry 5.0 brings together technology, human capabilities and sustainability, creating new possibilities for MSMEs. This international conference is very well representedand will certainly facilitate meaningful dialogue and knowledge exchange in this realm.”
