THE FINE PRINT

MSMEs are at the heart of India’s entrepreneurial and economic story. But for millions of enterprises, the journey from micro to small to medium—and eventually into global supply chains—is still filled with barriers.

In this episode of The Fine Print, Anant Swarup, Secretary General, FICCI, speaks with Harjinder Kaur Talwar, Designate-President, CMSME, about what it will take for India’s MSMEsto move from survival to scale.

The conversation explores:
• Delayed payments and working capital pressures
• Access to capital beyond traditional collateral-based lending
• Technology adoption and productivity
• Access to domestic and global markets
• ESG readiness and global supply-chain requirements
• Reducing compliance burdens
• Cluster development and last-mile handholding
• Creating greater opportunities for women entrepreneurs and young founders

The conversation also looks at how government, large enterprises, industry bodies and MSMEs can worktogether to unlock the sector’s next phase of growth.

“It’s time for MSMEs not to be afraid or scared, but to go out there and win.”

Watch the full episode of The Fine Print by FICCI.

ndia has crossed 50% non-fossil electricity capacity ahead of schedule—but is the country truly energy secure?

In this episode of The Fine Print by FICCI, two of India's leading energy experts unpack one of the country's biggest strategic challenges: balancing rapid economic growth with affordable, reliable and sovereign energy.

Vipul Tuli, President & CEO, Renewables West, Sembcorp Industries and Chair, FICCI RE CEOs Committee, joins Bhupinder Singh Bhalla, Former Secretary, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), for an in-depth conversation on India's energy transition.

Together, they explore:

- What energy security really means beyond electricity

- Why India still imports over 80% of its oil despite renewable growth

- The storage challenge holding back the clean energy transition

- Can Green Hydrogen become India's next strategic advantage?

- Why nuclear power remains critical for a reliable low-carbon grid

- Policy reforms, DISCOM challenges and infrastructure gaps

- Critical minerals, geopolitics and India's long-term energy sovereignty

- What India must do to achieve its 2047 and 2070 ambitions

Whether you're a policymaker, industry leader, investor, researcher or simply interested in India's future, this conversation offers valuable insights into the decisions that will shape the country's energy landscape for decades to come.

Watch the full episode on YouTube.

What does the India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) really mean for Indian businesses, exporters and professionals?

In this episode of The Fine Print, FICCI Secretary General Anant Swarup speaks with Nidhi Mani Tripathi, Minister (Economic), High Commission of India, London, and India’s Chief Negotiator for the India-UK FTA, to unpack one of India’s most significant trade agreements with a developed economy.

In this episode:

✅ What is India-UK CETA?

✅ How will 99% zero-duty access benefit Indian exporters?

✅ Which sectors stand to gain the most?

✅ What remains protected under the agreement?

✅ How will the Double Contribution Convention (DCC) help Indian professionals?

✅ Opportunities for MSMEs, manufacturers and service providers

✅ Digital trade, innovation, government procurement and mobility provisions

✅ What businesses should do before leveraging the agreement

Whether you’re an exporter, entrepreneur, policymaker, student or simply interested in India’s global economic partnerships, this episode breaks down the agreement in a simple, practical and insightful way.

Speakers:

* Anant Swarup – Secretary General, FICCI

* Nidhi Mani Tripathi – Minister (Economic), High Commission of India, London & Chief Negotiator, India-UK FTA

If you found this episode useful, don’t forget to Like, Share and Subscribe to FICCI for more conversations on business, policy and economic transformation.

What does the India–Oman Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) really mean for Indian businesses?

In this episode of The Fine Print, Jyoti Vij, Director General, FICCI, speaks with Ajay Bhadoo, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Commerce & Industry, to unpack the opportunities created by the India–Oman CEPA that came into force on 1 June 2026.

The conversation explores:

• Why India–Oman CEPA is a strategic milestone
• How 99% market access can benefit Indian exporters
• Opportunities across engineering, textiles, agriculture, food processing, pharmaceuticals, services and marine products
• Regulatory facilitation and fast-track approvals for Indian businesses
• Professional mobility and investment provisions
• How the agreement could strengthen supply chains and unlock new avenues for bilateral trade

Watch the full conversation to understand how this agreement could shape the next phase of India’s global trade story.

#IndiaOmanCEPA #TheFinePrint #FICCI #Trade #Exports #IndiaTrade #Commerce #EconomicPartnership #Business #Oman

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s six-day diplomatic tour across UAE, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and Italy resulted in major developments across trade, semiconductors, energy security, AI, defence manufacturing and the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC).

In this episode of The Fine Print by FICCI, Jyoti Vij, Director General, FICCI, speaks with Anant Swarup, Secretary General, FICCI, to decode the geopolitical and economic significance of the visit and what it means for Indian industry.

Key Topics Covered:

* India-EU FTA – “Mother of All Deals”

* IMEC Corridor Explained

* UAE’s $5 Billion Investment Push

* India’s Semiconductor Ambitions & Tata-ASML Partnership

* Energy Security & Strategic Oil Reserves

* AI, Quantum Computing & 6G Partnerships

* India-EFTA Agreement & Nordic Investments

* Defence Manufacturing Opportunities

* Green Transition & Emerging Technologies

This episode explains how India is positioning itself at the center of global trade, technology and strategic supply chains amid rising geopolitical uncertainty.

The India–New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (FTA) has now been officially signed. What does this mean for India’s economy, businesses, and global positioning?

In this episode of The Fine Print by FICCI, Ms Jyoti Vij, Directors General, FICCI, speaks with Mr. Anant Swarup, Secretary General, FICCI, to break down the real impact of this landmark agreement.

From 100% market access for Indian goods to new opportunities for students and skilled professionals, this conversation unpacks how the FTA could reshape trade, mobility, and investment between India and New Zealand.

•⁠ ⁠What the India–New Zealand FTA actually delivers for Indian businesses

•⁠ ⁠The significance of 100% market access and a $48 billion import market

•⁠ ⁠New student mobility pathways and global career opportunities

•⁠ ⁠Sectoral impact: textiles, MSMEs, pharma, and agri-tech

•⁠ ⁠Why this agreement signals India’s growing confidence in global trade

Watch the full episode to understand the opportunities behind the headlines.

India AI policy just hit an inflection point. 118 countries. A landmark Delhi Declaration. $200 billion in investment commitments. But can India actually deliver?

In Episode 2 of The Fine Print — FICCI's podcast on India's most consequential economic and policy decisions — host Ms. Preeti Lobana, Chairperson of FICCI's AI Committee and Country Manager at Google India, sits down with Mr. S. Krishnan, Secretary of MeiTY, to go beyond the announcements.

They discussed:

What outcomes the government is actually prioritising in the next 2–3 years

How AI will transform agriculture and healthcare — and what Bharat Vistar means in practice

Whether AI will cost India jobs — and the honest government answer

India's GPU costs: now a third of international rates, and why that matters

How SMEs and MSMEs can realistically adopt AI

The compute backbone, public-private partnerships, and data governance

India's role in global AI governance — from the Delhi Declaration to the United Nations

What 'Industrial Revolution 5.2' really means for the Global South

Krishnan closes with the one thing he wants to see emerge from the AI Impact Summit — and it's not what most people expect.

Did you know that for the first time in history, the Union Budget is offering absolute tax clarity for the next 22 years? Or that India’s logistics costs are beginning to plummet from 14% to single digits, giving the country a massive global advantage?

In this episode of The FINE PRINT- A FICCI Podcast, Anant Goenka, President, FICCI sits down with Pranav Sayta (Partner, EY & Chair of FICCI Taxation Committee) to decode the Union Budget. We bypass the jargon to understand the macro picture—from how the budget is secretly built inside North Block, to where your tax money actually goes, and why India is positioned as the "calm in the global storm."

Did you know that for the first time in history, the Union Budget is offering absolute tax clarity for the next 22 years? Or that India’s logistics costs are beginning to plummet from 14% to single digits, giving the country a massive global advantage?

In this episode of The FINE PRINT- A FICCI Podcast, Anant Goenka, President, FICCI sits down with Pranav Sayta (Partner, EY & Chair of FICCI Taxation Committee) to decode the Union Budget. We bypass the jargon to understand the macro picture—from how the budget is secretly built inside North Block, to where your tax money actually goes, and why India is positioned as the "calm in the global storm."