Ahead of World MSME Day 2026, industry representatives called for a policy shift to improve the competitiveness of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), citing challenges from geopolitical tensions, supply chain disruptions, and changing compliance rules. Anil Bhardwaj, Secretary General of the Federation of Indian Micro and Small & Medium Enterprises (FISME), stated the global business environment is undergoing a structural transition, not a temporary disruption, with the world trading system becoming fragmented due to tariff measures, supply chain realignments, CBAM-type green regulations, quality standards, and growing protectionism. He noted smaller firms often lack resources to adapt quickly to changing export regulations. India has around 87.8 million MSMEs, of which about 97% are micro, 2.7% are small, and 0.3% are medium enterprises. Bhardwaj said rising costs of raw materials, energy, logistics, finance, technology adoption, compliance, and skilled manpower squeeze MSME margins, and protectionist measures like quality control orders (QCOs) and safeguard duties could reduce their competitiveness. He also highlighted that delayed payments remain a major constraint, worsened by large buyers conserving cash during global uncertainty. Bhardwaj advocated for ensuring access to competitively priced raw materials, launching a technology upgradation mission, and strengthening payment discipline through mandatory reporting by large buyers.