Surat, June 20 — Chartered Accountant Mitesh Modi, Honorary Treasurer of the Southern Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SGCCI), represented the chamber at the 6th IMC Business Connect event held in Mumbai. Organized by the Indian Merchants' Chamber of Commerce (IMC), the session focused on “Unlocking Global Market: Trade Opportunities for Indian Business” and brought together diplomats and trade representatives from across the world.
During the event, Mitesh Modi held interactions with consuls general and representatives from Egypt, Ireland, Mexico, Vietnam, Australia, Canada, and Malaysia, exploring potential trade and investment partnerships. The program featured senior government and industry voices highlighting opportunities for Indian businesses to tap into international markets.
R.K. Mishra, Additional Director General of Foreign Trade, who attended as the chief guest, emphasized the Indian government’s ambitious target of achieving $200 billion in e-commerce exports over the next five years. As per agency report, he stressed the need for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to focus on improving quality, innovation, branding, and packaging to compete globally. Citing Germany’s example, where the MSME sector contributes 60% to the GDP and provides 58% of employment, Mishra encouraged Indian entrepreneurs to actively engage with international trade policies, incentives, and guidelines.
Diplomats at the event outlined investment opportunities in their respective countries. Egypt’s Consul General Dahilla Tawakkol shared details of a memorandum of understanding signed with India aimed at facilitating business setup for Indian MSMEs in Egypt. Ireland’s Consul General Anita Kelly highlighted investment prospects in information technology, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, education, and tourism sectors.
Mexican Consul General Adolfo Garcia Estrada noted that Mexico, being one of the largest economies in Latin America, offers wide-ranging opportunities in industrial manufacturing, automotive, textiles, healthcare, IT, and food processing. Similar insights were shared by Vietnam’s Le Quang Bien, Australia’s Mary Overington, Canada’s Elaine D’Souza, and Malaysia’s Shahrulmizha Zakaria, each detailing sector-specific entry points for Indian businesses in their nations.
The event concluded with an invitation extended to Mitesh Modi, R.K. Mishra, and IMC President Sunita Ramnathkar to visit Southern Gujarat and engage with local entrepreneurs. All dignitaries graciously accepted the invitation, setting the stage for future collaboration between the region and global trade stakeholders.
