Ludhiana: As economic rebounding is the need of the hour to brave a new world in post-pandemic times, in association with the State Bank of India (SBI), PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI) have started a new business outreach program series called ‘SBI-PHDCCI Industry Roundtable Meet.’ Starting with, the first program of the Series was organised here recently to bring the important industry stakeholders and exporters of Punjab on a common business platform and discuss some of the most crucial aspects concerning businesses and project finance in both the states with focus on MSMEs, large corporates and enhancing the export potential from the state.

It was attended by the key policymakers from SBI and state’s industry to ideate the way forward for an ever closer cooperation between SBI and industry entities in Punjab to support the economic fundamentals and strengthen the business ecosystem. In the post pandemic times, it was one of the early interventions for supporting Punjab’s Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and exporters. The deliberations of Meet are expected to help the state’s industry units to directly explore the financing and other banking services available with SBI in Punjab.

The chief guest and keynote speaker Anukool Bhatnagar, Chief General Manager, SBI, Chandigarh Local Headquarters, reflected on the macroeconomic trends in the light of pandemic and its adverse impacts on the industry, especially on MSMEs and exports. He said the SBI is open for meeting the financing requirements of Punjab’s industries -- both MSMEs and large corporates, and assured the industry participants attending the meet about the SBI’s unwavering support for their businesses and Punjab’s development at large. To overcome the challenges of demand slump and rising cost of business, he suggested the industry to adapt to the new normal and brave it through their entrepreneurial zeal. He assured that SBI’s inherent strength will be serving the causes of the Indian industry, and like its glorious past, the bank’s present is illustrious in the service of the nation.

He shared that through its Chandigarh Local Headquarters, SBI is catering to the banking needs of all segments of the customers and the bank is consistently on the progressive path both financially and through its outreach initiatives. Besides initiating various new initiatives in SBI’s Chandigarh circle to support all sizes of businesses, the SBI Nepal Desk is a new institutional initiative to serve the interests of people and businesses in both countries.   

The global pandemic Covid-19 is being termed as a ‘one in hundred years’ crisis. It is, therefore, very well needed to evaluate and study on the future way out for water uses and management. The crisis has already impacted lives and livelihoods in unprecedented manner. Trade has been stopped, borders locked down and the people were being forced to either stay home or reach their respective homes. Some of the biggest changes that were never expected have taken place. As the crisis has global nature, India is severely impacted as well. 

The world is self-assured to see a sort of re-set, it is the time for the government and industry to reckon the urgency of figuring out their immediate priorities, including on supporting the MSMEs, the backbone of the Indian economy. A change in approach is much needed at this point of time, before the fundamentals of the world order go in reset mode, there should be determination to revive the MSMEs financing to support the much needed demand factor of the economy. /BI/