FICCI FLO, under the visionary leadership of National President Poonam Sharma, hosted the “2nd Edition of the FICCI FLO National MSME Awards Ceremony” at FICCI Federation House, New Delhi. The awards recognise and celebrate the remarkable contributions of women-led Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) across India. Instituted by FICCI FLO, these Awards serve as a prestigious national platform to recognise and celebrate the remarkable contributions of women-led Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises across India.
This initiative was undertaken under the aegis of the FICCI FLO MSME Assist Cell, led by Governing Body Member Ms. Sucheta Shah and Co-Chair Ms. Ruby Garg, whose leadership has played a vital role in bringing this national initiative to life. The ceremony was graced by Chief Guest Jitin Prasada, Hon’ble Union Minister of State for Commerce & Industry and Electronics & Information Technology, Government of India, who delivered the keynote address.
The Minister highlighted the growing opportunities for Indian MSMEs through Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with major global markets, including the European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand. Addressing the gathering, Shri Prasada emphasised that while MSMEs remain the backbone of the Indian economy, the sector must move beyond scale and low-cost manufacturing to focus on quality-driven growth.
Hon’ble Minister released the FICCIFLO White Paper titled “The Circular Catalyst: How Women-Led MSMEs are Driving India’s Sustainable Future.” The report presents key insights, policy recommendations, and sectoral perspectives on strengthening the ecosystem for women-led MSMEs in India, with particular focus on sustainability, circular economy practices, and the growing role of women entrepreneurs in driving responsible and future-ready business models.
The event was also attended by Anurag Sharma, Hon’ble Member of Parliament from Jhansi, and Guest of Honour Subhransu Sekhar Acharya, Chairman and Managing Director of the National Small Industries Corporation (NSIC). Dr. Acharya emphasised the importance of promoting women-led development through targeted support, digital empowerment, and skill development initiatives. He highlighted the Trade Enablement & Marketing (TEAM) initiative promoted by NSIC, which aims to onboard five lakh MSMEs onto the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) platform, with a target that 50 percent of these enterprises will be women-led.
The event was also graced by Dr. Harjinder Kaur Talwar, Past President FICCIFLO, who attended as a Special Guest. Dr. Talwar currently serves as the President-Elect of the Confederation of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (CMSME), an allied body of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry.
Speaking on the occasion, Poonam Sharma, National President, FICCI FLO, highlighted the growing role of women entrepreneurs in shaping India’s economic future and highlighted FLO’s ongoing initiatives aimed at strengthening women’s economic participation and leadership. Ms. Ruby Garg, FLO Governing Body Member and Co-Chair of the FLO National MSME Assist Cell, was the Day Chair for the awards ceremony.
The evening culminated with the presentation of the FICCI FLO National MSME Awards, recognising outstanding women entrepreneurs across diverse sectors:
Award Winners
- Excellence in Micro Enterprise – Sreemathy K, Founder & CEO, Sthree Creatives.
- Excellence in Micro Enterprise – Vaishali J. Vasa, CMD, Vasa Pharmachem Pvt Ltd.
- Excellence in Agri-Tech Innovation – Poonam Mohapatra, Managing Director, Rach Skillhive LLP (Organelle Farms).
- Excellence in Manufacturing Leadership – Roma Shah, Founder, MedTogs Healthcare Apparel LLP.
- Excellence in Service Innovation – Niharika Sondhi, Founder & Director, EdNet Consultants Pvt Ltd.
- Emerging Woman Entrepreneur of the Year – Sugandha Kedia, Founder, Dusala India.
- Woman Innovator of the Year – Kranti Bari, Founder & Brand Owner, BabyTeddy.
- Digital Transformation Leader – Pooja Makhija, Director, Phonon Digital Pvt Ltd.
- Excellence in Skill Development & Employment Generation – Devika Pakruthi, Founder & CEO, Adhoc Network.
- Award for Social Impact & Inclusive Growth – Meera Ramakrishnan, Co-Founder & Director, Zishta Traditions Pvt Ltd.
- SHG Empowerment Award – Sushama Devi, Shradha Nari Shakti.
Alongside the awards ceremony, a curated showcase of products by women-led MSMEs was organised on the sidelines of the event. Several women entrepreneurs displayed their products across categories, including handicrafts, textiles, lifestyle products, and artisanal goods, providing attendees an opportunity to interact directly with the founders and learn about their entrepreneurial journeys.
The ceremony concluded with a networking hi-tea, providing an opportunity for members, entrepreneurs, and stakeholders to connect and celebrate the achievements of women-led MSMEs that are shaping India’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.