Latest news with #Small
Business Recorder
3 hours ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
Alibaba.com launches ‘CoCreate Pitch'
KARACHI: a leading B2B e-commerce platform, has announced the newly expanded pitch competition, 'CoCreate Pitch', which will take place at the Company's annual flagship CoCreate event. The competition will allow global SMEs with product dreams to compete for a $1 million prize pool. Selected SMEs and entrepreneurs from Pakistan will have the opportunity to participate in the US event held in Las Vegas from September 4-5, 2025. In addition to the 'CoCreate Pitch' competition, is also introducing CoCreate Europe, which will be held in London on November 14, 2025. Coinciding with World Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Day on June 27th, this initiative highlights the commitment of to supporting global SMEs. SMEs are actively positioning themselves for new opportunities. During the mid-year stock season, has observed significant momentum in Pakistan, with the number of Pakistani exporters on the platform increasing by 30% year-over-year from April to June. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
IOL News
15 hours ago
- Business
- IOL News
Minister Ndabeni outlines steps to support small businesses and co-operatives
Minister of Small Business Development Stella Ndabeni is confident that the legislative and policy interventions will make the support to Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises more coherent. Image: Kopano Tlape / GCIS Small Business Development Minister Stella Ndabeni on Friday said her department was steadily moving towards closing policy gaps in order to remove constraints in a move to enable Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and co-operatives to thrive. 'We move from the premise that the small enterprise support ecosystem has legislative and policy gaps. To this end, we are steadily closing those gaps to ensure that constraints are removed, and a more enabling environment is created for MSMEs and co-operatives to thrive,' Ndabeni said. Speaking during the budget vote in the National Assembly, she said the amendment of the National Small Enterprise Act has led to the establishment of the Small Enterprise Development and Finance Agency (SEDFA) and the Office of the Small Enterprise Ombud. Ndabeni also said the MSME and Co-operatives Funding Policy was approved by the Cabinet last year. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ 'We are now working on partnerships to establish an alternative MSME credit rating system as well as a movable asset registry to address the lack of collateral among MSME borrowers. 'The current risk assessment models used by financiers (audited financial statements, credit history, collaterals) are not suitable for MSMEs, as they are mainly designed for big businesses. With an alternative credit data model, we can ensure that financiers are able to use alternative data like bill payments, e-commerce activity, mobile money transactions, and others to foster financial inclusion for the majority of MSMEs.' Ndabeni further said they were working with the Department of Trade, Industry and Commerce on the Transformation Fund. 'This will be a game-changer for MSME funding. We must enhance MSMEs' readiness to secure funding, particularly in poorer provinces, townships, and rural areas.' Ndabeni stated that they have recently approved the National Business Licensing Policy and were now amending the Business Licensing Bill to simplify business licensing and introduce preferential licensing for targeted empowerment and promotion of previously disadvantaged groups in economic activity for specific sectors. She added that the department was finalising the National Entrepreneurship Strategy, which focused on the individual entrepreneur and their needs at different stages of development. Another policy initiative was the Township and Rural Economic Development and Revitalization Policy, which will go to Cabinet this year. 'This policy will enable a more consolidated approach by the government when it comes to supporting township and rural MSMEs and co-operatives. The policy calls for the creation of vibrant township and rural small business hubs, which will require a more coordinated approach by the three spheres of government around zoning, business licensing, infrastructure provisioning, and investment.' Ndabeni was confident that the legislative and policy interventions would make the ecosystem more coherent and ensure that more MSMEs were better served, especially those owned by women, youth, people with disabilities, as well as enterprises from townships and rural areas. According to Ndabeni, the department was also instituting a new service delivery model. 'We are developing a robust monitoring and reporting framework for all ecosystem players, which we will present to the Cabinet this year. We are also establishing internal research capacity and undertaking sector-specific value chain studies to inform targeted interventions in productive sectors of the economy.' She also said they have created a research think-tank to support evidence-based policy and formal partnerships with deans of commerce from higher education institutions. 'We are also finalising the appointment of a new Small Business Advisory Body.'
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Business Standard
18 hours ago
- Business
- Business Standard
MSME credit top Rs 40 trillion as of March 2025, grows 20% annually
Credit to the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) sector crossed Rs 40 trillion, registering a robust 20 per cent year-on-year (YoY) growth as of March 2025, primarily driven by strengthened priority sector lending (PSL) norms, targeted government initiatives, and increased digitalisation, which collectively enhanced lending capacity and improved credit accessibility across the sector, said a report by CRIF High Mark. Having said that, according to the report, the growth in active loans dropped to 1.3 per cent YoY in FY25 to 21.45 million at the end of March 2025. In FY24, growth in active loans was 24 per cent YoY. Data suggests that the MSME portfolio is holding up well in terms of asset quality, with the portfolio at risk (PAR) in the 31–90 days bucket at 1.7 per cent as of March 2025—the same level as in March 2024. Asset quality has improved in the 91–180 days bucket, where PAR declined to 1.2 per cent, and in the 180+ days bucket, where PAR stood at 5.7 per cent—an improvement of 90 basis points from the previous year.
Time of India
a day ago
- Sport
- Time of India
NBA Draft 2025: Memphis Grizzlies add backcourt burst with Javon Small at No. 48
The Memphis Grizzlies continued reshaping their roster. The team has selected West Virginia's Javon Small with the 48th overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. Small becomes the second rookie addition for Memphis this year, joining No. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now 11 pick Cedric Coward. While not projected for immediate heavy minutes, Small's ability to create his own shot and contribute on both ends of the floor gives the Grizzlies another intriguing option behind Ja Morant. Javon Small joins the Memphis Grizzlies' backcourt Javon Small's journey to the NBA was anything but traditional. A four-year college player across three schools, Small took the scenic route to draft night and made sure he left a mark at every stop. Now, after a breakout senior season at West Virginia, the 6-foot-1 Indiana native is headed to Memphis to join a backcourt loaded with talent. The Memphis Grizzlies selected Small with the 48th pick in the second round. His arrival adds to a group that includes Scotty Pippen Jr. and Cole Anthony, all backing up franchise centerpiece Ja Morant. While his playing time may be limited early, Small's impact could grow quickly if his production translates to the next level. Small was one of the most productive guards in the NCAA during the 2024–25 season. In 32 games for the Mountaineers, he averaged 18.6 points, 5.6 assists, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.5 steals, earning All-Big 12 First Team honors and an AP All-American Honorable Mention. Despite being slightly undersized (190 pounds) for an NBA combo guard, Small made up for it with elite athleticism. He boasts a vertical leap of over 40 inches and a fearlessness in key moments. Among his standout performances at West Virginia: - Scored 31 points against Gonzaga at the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament. - Hit the game-winning free throw to upset Kansas, delivering in crunch time against one of the top programs in college basketball. - Poured in 12 points in the final two minutes to seal a dramatic comeback victory over Iowa State. Also Read: He also shot a respectable 35.3% from beyond the arc in his senior season, showcasing a well-rounded offensive game that includes strong playmaking and the ability to hit tough shots under pressure.
New Indian Express
2 days ago
- Business
- New Indian Express
Dream it, build it
It often starts with a simple idea — a soap handcrafted in a home kitchen, a puzzle designed at the dining table, or a small store on a bustling street deciding to take the plunge online. Ahead of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Day (June 27), it's these stories that deserve the spotlight, stories of humble beginnings that dared to grow, adapt, and dream bigger. 'Earthy Sapo started as a passion project, not a business plan,' shares Sheetal Kabra Mohanty, founder of the Hyderabad-based personal care brand. 'When I first began making soaps, I shared them with friends and family and participated in farmers' markets around the city. My goal was simple, to connect with people, understand their skin and hair care concerns, and see if my products could genuinely help. I wasn't in a rush. I spent nearly two to three years just doing that — listening, learning, and gathering honest feedback,' adds Sheetal. What followed was no overnight transformation. Sheetal spent years refining formulations and deepening her understanding of what customers truly needed. 'The response I received was not just positive, it was heartwarming. That's when I began thinking of Earthy Sapo not just as a passion but as a business,' she says. A key turning point came in 2017–18, when a loyal customer encouraged her to explore online retail. 'Amazon was the first e-commerce platform I joined. Their onboarding was seamless, and their vast reach — both across India and internationally which helped me take Earthy Sapo beyond local markets. Their robust logistics, user-friendly tech tools, and deep expertise in online selling made a huge difference. For me, Amazon became the launchpad that transformed Earthy Sapo from a farmers' market brand into one serving customers nationwide and beyond,' she notes.
