World Association for Small and Medium Enterprises (WASME)
Date: February 2026
Location: Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India
The World Association for Small and Medium Enterprises (WASME), an international organisation with consultative and observer status at the United Nations, organised a high-level Strategic Dialogue on Union Budget 2026–27 to examine its impact, opportunities, and future roadmap for the MSME sector.
The programme was held at the WASME International Secretariat, Sector 16-A, Film City, Noida, and witnessed participation from policy experts, chartered accountants, infrastructure professionals, and MSME stakeholders. The objective of the dialogue was to translate Budget provisions into practical and implementable strategies for MSMEs.
Welcoming the participants, Dr. Sanjiv Layek, Executive Secretary, WASME, stated that Union Budget 2026–27 sends a clear message that MSMEs are not merely contributors but the central drivers of India’s growth, employment generation, innovation, and inclusive development. He noted that the Budget aligns strongly with the national vision of Viksit Bharat, balancing fiscal discipline with growth and stability with innovation.
Dr. Layek highlighted key Budget provisions relevant to MSMEs, including strengthened credit flow, enhanced ease of doing business, compliance rationalisation, infrastructure-led growth, digitalisation and ONDC support, and increasing emphasis on sustainability and ESG frameworks. He emphasised that effective implementation and stakeholder collaboration are essential to ensure benefits reach MSMEs at the grassroots level.
Addressing the session, CA H.K. Gupta, Founder, GrowMSME, underlined the importance of improved access to finance, structured growth planning, and MSME-friendly policy execution, stating that the Budget can significantly boost confidence and formalisation within the sector.
CA Rastogi Ravindra & Associates provided insights into the post-Budget taxation, GST, and compliance landscape, advising MSMEs to adopt proactive compliance and governance practices.
CA J.K. Jain emphasised the need for financial discipline, tax planning, and transparent governance, noting that the Budget encourages MSMEs to strengthen credibility for accessing institutional finance.
CA Kapil Varshneya focused on compliance readiness and advisory-led growth, highlighting that timely adaptation to regulatory changes can enhance MSME profitability and long-term sustainability.
From an infrastructure perspective, Mr. Debasis Satapathy, Chief General Manager, NBCC, elaborated on opportunities arising from increased public investment, stating that infrastructure-led growth will create significant demand for MSME participation across multiple sectors.
The session concluded with an interactive discussion with MSME entrepreneurs, focusing on challenges related to credit access, digital transformation, ESG compliance, and market expansion.
WASME reiterated that Union Budget 2026–27 should be viewed not merely as a fiscal document but as a strategic blueprint for MSME-led economic transformation. Key recommendations from the dialogue will be consolidated and shared with relevant ministries and institutions.
