There are events that feel routine, and then there are events that genuinely shift the energy in the room. The Reverse Buyer Seller Meet (RBSM) held in Pune belonged to the second category. For two days, the city became a meeting point for Maharashtra’s MSMEs and buyers from across the world, and being a part of it both as an attendee and a speaker felt like witnessing the beginning of something bigger for the state’s export ecosystem.
Organized by the India SME Forum in partnership with MSSIDC and supported by the Ministry of MSME under the World Bank’s RAMP Scheme, the event wasn’t just about numbers or trade leads. It was about opening doors, building confidence, and giving MSMEs from every corner of Maharashtra a global stage to stand on.
A Day That Started With Purpose
Day 1 opened with senior dignitaries who truly set the tone Shri Vikas Pansare, IAS (MD, MSSIDC), Smt. Prashali Dighavkar (Joint MD, MSSIDC), Mr. Vinod Kumar W. (President, India SME Forum), and Ms. Sushma Morthania (Director General, India SME Forum). Their message was simple and powerful: Maharashtra’s MSMEs are ready, and the world is ready for them.
And honestly, you could feel that energy in the room.
More than 200 MSMEs were present, representing an incredible mix of manufacturing, wellness, engineering goods, food brands, artisans, and so many others. The diversity itself showed how wide Maharashtra’s export potential really is. On the other side were 45 buyers from 16 countries: Japan, UK, Kenya, Russia, Hungary, Zimbabwe, and more openly exploring what our small and medium businesses had to offer.
The estimates from Day 1 alone crossed ₹200 crore in potential opportunities. But what stood out even more was the level of curiosity buyers showed during one-to-one interactions. Many of them had never worked with Indian MSMEs before, and this event gave them a genuine space to engage, understand, and build trust.
Panel Discussions That Felt Real, Not Theoretical
The first panel of the day focused on the policies and systems needed to make exports smoother. It featured senior leaders SBI, Customs, Department of Posts, DGFT basically all the institutions an exporter interacts with. What made the panel refreshing was its clarity. They didn’t speak in policy-heavy language; instead, they addressed issues MSMEs actually struggle with: documentation delays, need for digital systems, compliance pressure, high logistics costs, and the importance of climate-ready infrastructure.
The second panel, “Boosting E-commerce Exports,” was closer to home for many of us because today, even the smallest manufacturer can reach a customer sitting 10,000 km away. The panel included exporters, founders, insurance and logistics experts, and representatives from EXIM Bank. It was practical, relatable, and filled with insights you normally only get when you talk to fellow entrepreneurs.
Into Wellness at the RBSM: A Moment of Pride
I had the privilege of being invited as a guest speaker for the session on “Boosting Exports from Maharashtra.”Speaking in front of 200+ MSMEs, global delegates, government officials, and industry leaders was truly an honour and a moment of pride for the Into Wellness story.
My talk covered three things that every MSME relates to:
1. Our journey in international markets
How we started, how we slowly built trust overseas, how quality and consistency helped us enter competitive markets, and what it looks like to represent Indian fitness manufacturing globally. I kept it honest, no idealistic storytelling, just the real path, with its wins and setbacks.
2. The challenges every MSME faces while going global
I spoke about the exact things entrepreneurs whisper in corridors at events:
- Complicated Documentation
- High Logistics Costs
- Unpredictable Import Rules in Different Countries
- The Need for Certifications
- And how tough it is for smaller businesses to get visibility abroad
The room nodded along because these are issues we all deal with, irrespective of sector.
3. Practical ways to start exporting without feeling overwhelmed
I focused on easy, actionable steps: how to begin with one or two global markets, why digital presence matters today, how e-commerce exports are opening doors, and why MSMEs must slowly adopt technology to stay competitive.
I also highlighted that “global” doesn’t always mean “big.” Sometimes your first export order might be small, but it builds the confidence to aim bigger.
A Q&A Session That Became a Conversation
The Q&A was probably the highlight of the session. It didn’t feel like a typical audience Q&A; it felt like a room full of entrepreneurs trying to figure out the next step together.
Questions came around:
- How MSMEs can adopt AI without major investments
- What digitalisation actually looks like for small factories
- How companies can meet global ESG expectations
- And what buyers abroad really look for in Indian suppliers
The discussions were honest and practical. People weren’t afraid to talk about real issues because they knew they were speaking to people who understand the ground reality.
Networking That Actually Worked
Post-panel networking didn’t feel forced. MSMEs actually spoke with buyers, exchanged samples, showed catalogues, and discussed pricing. Many buyers spent time trying to understand how small businesses operate, what production cycles look like, and how they can work long-term.
For Into Wellness, it opened new conversations, new contacts, and new ideas about markets we hadn’t explored yet.
A Step Forward for Maharashtra’s MSMEs
What made this event special wasn’t the scale, it was the intention. It was a rare space where government officials, global buyers, and MSMEs sat together with the same agenda: making Maharashtra a stronger export hub.
With the RAMP Scheme bridging Centre State efforts, and with organizations like India SME Forum putting MSMEs at the forefront, this event felt like a genuine push toward global competitiveness.
As Day 2 moved toward intensive B2B meetings and buyer pitches, the momentum only grew. MSMEs showcased their products, shared their stories, and explored partnerships with buyers from 19 countries.
For many businesses, this event will become a turning point.
And for Into Wellness, it was a proud moment to stand on that stage, share our journey, and contribute to a conversation that is shaping the future of Maharashtra’s exports.
