The 216th regular weekly problem-solving meeting of the Surat Mercantile Association (SMA) was held on Sunday, May 3, 2026, at Maheshwari Bhavan, City Light, Surat. The meeting took place from 9:30 AM to 10:30 AM in the presence of SMA head Narendra Sabu, the Panch Panel, and core committee members.
A total of 145 traders participated, and five applications received for problem resolution were heard. One application was resolved on the spot through mutual dialogue, while the remaining cases were referred to the Panch Panel and the legal team for further processing. At the beginning of the meeting, various issues related to trade were discussed.
Traders described the start of the new financial year 2026-27 as extremely weak. Due to global unrest and war-like conditions, there has been a negative impact on trade from rising crude oil prices, currency exchange rates, and inflation. In April, trade was only possible at 40 to 50 percent capacity, and there are low expectations for improvement in the near future.
Given the current situation, a decline of 25 to 30 percent in trade throughout the financial year has been anticipated. Bharat Bhai Hariyani and Vikrant, CEO of the India Trade Festival 2026 (India Mandapam, New Delhi), were invited as chief guests for the seminar session. They urged Surat's textile traders to participate in this national exhibition, highlighting that products from across the country would be showcased and approximately 1.2 million domestic and foreign visitors would attend.
They called on Surat's traders to take advantage of this opportunity. The meeting concluded with a delicious snack. Many prominent members of the SMA family were present, including Rajesh Bansal, Surendra Bhansali, Ajay Ajmera, Champalal Bothra, Suresh Malpani, Vineet Kabra, Anil Daswani, Manoj Agarwal, Ramkishore Bajaj, Arvind Jain, Mukesh Agarwal, Keval Bhai Asija, Sanjay Agarwal, Gaurav Bhasin, Jitendra Surana, Sandeep Agarwal, Rajeev Umar, Ram Ratan Vohr, and Surendra Agarwal, along with a large number of traders.
Narendra Sabu, head of the Surat Mercantile Association, advised traders not to lose hope in his presidential address. He emphasized that every opportunity in business should be approached thoughtfully and critically to achieve success. He also mentioned that the products and goods produced by Surat's traders need to gain equal recognition and exposure across the country.
Exhibitions can serve as an effective medium for this, allowing traders to showcase their products on a larger scale. Sabu also suggested that traders should stay in contact with experienced individuals who can provide proper guidance when investing in the stock market, enabling them to gain more benefits and reduce risks.
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