Hyderabad, Dec 16 (Representative) The Federation of Telangana Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FTCCI), in collaboration with the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME), Government of India, hosted an International Conference on Clean Energy for MSMEs at HICC in Madhapur here. The one-day event, held on Saturday evening, aimed to promote emissions-free growth and an efficient industrial ecosystem, drawing over 400 delegates from across India and international participants from Germany, Thailand, and Sri Lanka. During the valedictory session, Musharaff Faruqui, CMD of Telangana Southern Power Distribution Company Limited, announced that the state’s Green Energy Policy is in its final stages and will be launched soon. He highlighted Telangana’s unique position as a landlocked state with significant potential for green energy. Faruqui noted the challenges posed by the state’s provision of free electricity for agriculture, which complicates the shift to sustainable energy.
The CMD also unveiled an AI-powered platform developed by a startup to provide actionable insights for energy conservation and cost reduction. Earlier in the day, Ajay Mishra, former Special Chief Secretary of the Energy Department, Government of Telangana, inaugurated the conference as the chief guest. He emphasized the need for MSMEs to adopt clean energy, urging the government to extend proportional support to these enterprises. “One in seven people is employed by MSMEs. They have no choice but to transition to clean energy to remain competitive,” Mishra stated. In his opening remarks, Suresh Kumar Singhal, President of FTCCI, stressed the importance of energy transition and the decarbonization of industry, urging the government to provide the necessary support for MSMEs to adopt clean energy. He underlined the role of clean energy in shaping the future and called for infrastructure revamp to enable this transformation. Srinivas Cherla, Director of Sustainability at the Research and Innovation Circle of Hyderabad, highlighted Telangana’s energy consumption patterns, noting that MSMEs account for 25 percent of the state’s total energy use, with renewable sources contributing a meager 0.6–1 GWh. He called for policy reforms and greater openness in the power sector to accelerate the adoption of renewable energy.
Dr Sunchu Glory Swarupa, Director General of the National Institute for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (Ni-MSME), underlined the economic importance of MSMEs, which contribute 30 percent to India’s GDP, 50 per cent to exports, and provide employment to 20 crore people. She described the current era as the “Clean Energy Revolution,” comparing it to the Green, White, and Blue Revolutions of the past. The conference featured three sessions focusing on Clean Energy, Decarbonization, and Financial Options. Experts discussed the increasing importance of balance sheets and ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) reports in securing loans from banks, highlighting the need for MSMEs to adapt to these emerging requirements. In his concluding remarks, M Vinod Kumar Agarwal, Chairman of FTCCI’s Energy Committee, expressed regret over the absence of Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, who had consented to attend. He reaffirmed the conference’s goal of encouraging MSMEs in Telangana to adopt clean energy practices, noting the state’s vast base of 26 lakh MSMEs. The day-long deliberations emphasised the pivotal role of clean energy in ensuring a sustainable and efficient industrial future.