SGCCI Hosts ‘SME to Corporate’ Conclave

Surat : The Southern Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SGCCI) recently organized a high-profile conclave titled ‘SME to Corporate,’ bringing together distinguished leaders from the corporate world to share their expertise. The event featured notable speakers such as Chetan Shah, Chairman and Managing Director of Solex Energy Ltd., CA Nirav Jogani, Director of RSM Astute & Lemon Consultech Groups, Dr. Nirav Mandir, CHCO of Shree Ramkrishna Exports Pvt. Ltd., Rajesh Desai, Founder of Harmony Multimedia, and Sunny Kurapa, Vertical Head of Marketing at HDFC Bank Limited.

Sunny Kurapa, vertical head of marketing at HDFC Bank Limited emphasized the importance of marketing in driving sales for small companies. He recommended allocating 20 percent of the capital budget to marketing efforts. Kurapa stressed the need for clear marketing goals, scalability, and consistency. He highlighted that communication and knowledge are crucial for successful marketing strategies. Kurapa also advised companies to continually improve their products based on customer feedback and to leverage SEO/SEM platforms for better visibility.

SGCCI President Vijay Mewawala welcomed attendees and highlighted the significance of MSMEs in South Gujarat, particularly in Surat. He pointed out that India is home to over 63 million SMEs, contributing about 30 percent to the country’s GDP and 45 percent to the manufacturing sector. These enterprises are the backbone of the Indian economy, providing employment to over 110 million people.

Chetan Shah provided insights into transitioning from an SME to a corporate entity. He underscored the necessity of a growth plan, which is essential for structuring the business and ensuring its scalability. Shah emphasized the critical role of human resources in driving business growth and the importance of hiring professionals for specialized tasks, allowing entrepreneurs to focus on expansion. He advised against relying solely on the company’s face value, advocating for strong leadership that involves training employees and delegating responsibilities effectively.

Shah also noted the post-COVID-19 necessity for professionals to be multi-tasking, possessing knowledge in multiple areas beyond their primary expertise. He illustrated this with examples of professionally managed companies, highlighting the need for leaders to acquire additional skills to navigate the evolving business landscape.