ISFA Champions Inclusive Growth Through Franchising on World MSME Day 2025

New Delhi : On the occasion of World MSME Day 2025, the Indian Small Business & Franchise Association (ISFA) joined hands with global entrepreneurs, startups, and policymakers to celebrate the pivotal role that Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) play in building a robust, inclusive, and sustainable economic future for India.

According to recent government data, MSMEs contribute nearly 30% to India’s GDP, account for 45% of exports, and provide employment to over 200 million people. As these figures continue to rise, franchising has emerged as a major catalyst for accelerating growth in the MSME sector—particularly across Tier II and Tier III cities.

ISFA highlighted the growing popularity of the franchise business model among first-time entrepreneurs. The model offers a unique balance between entrepreneurial independence and brand-backed assurance. Franchising enables new business owners to tap into capital, workforce, and proven systems with lower risk and faster scalability.

“Franchising is unlocking grassroots entrepreneurship, bringing professional networks and structured business systems to underserved geographies,” said an ISFA spokesperson. “It creates ripple effects of employment, skills, and economic vibrancy at the local level.”

Sectors such as food & beverage, retail, education, health & wellness, and home services are seeing increased participation from MSMEs adopting the franchise route to enter competitive markets.

As India marches toward its $5 trillion economy vision, ISFA reaffirmed its mission to support MSME growth through training, mentorship, policy advocacy, and digital transformation. Over the past year, the association has rolled out:

Regional Franchise Expos to boost visibility

Investor Connect Forums to improve funding access

Skill-Building Workshops for entrepreneurship development

This year, ISFA is placing additional focus on:

Policy Advocacy for franchise-friendly MSME incentives

Digital Enablement to help MSMEs thrive in a tech-first economy

Women & Youth Entrepreneurship Programs to drive inclusive participation

Certified Franchise Training Modules to promote operational excellence

Reflecting on the 2025 World MSME Day theme—"Empowering Small Businesses for a Sustainable Future"—ISFA called for increased collaboration between government, industry leaders, and ecosystem enablers to uplift MSMEs.

“We must reimagine MSMEs not just as ‘small businesses’, but as scalable economic engines,” said the ISFA board in a joint statement. “Through franchising, we can democratize opportunity—ensuring every aspiring entrepreneur, regardless of background, has a viable pathway to succeed.”

ISFA has invited all stakeholders—policymakers, corporate mentors, investors, and startup enablers—to align efforts toward creating a thriving, franchise-led MSME ecosystem.

“Let World MSME Day 2025 be a reminder that empowering small businesses isn’t just an economic strategy—it’s a national imperative,” concluded the statement.