MSMEs in India and the insurance imperative: Closing the protection gap.
India’s economy, MSMEs remain critically underinsured. With less than 15% having adequate insurance coverage, millions of businesses are left vulnerable to financial shocks. Why, then, do so many small enterprises overlook such a crucial safety net?
Business insurance penetration among micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in India remains alarmingly low. Given that there are 63 million MSMEs, which currently contribute approximately 30% to India’s gross domestic product (GDP), only a small fraction have insurance. Insurance coverage is crucial for MSMEs, given their limited capacity to withstand risks such as payment defaults. In the post-pandemic world, challenges such as supply chain disruptions, geopolitical tensions, inflation, and economic slowdowns have further heightened the risks associated with exports, making risk mitigation through insurance more vital than ever.
This raises an important question: Are MSMEs reluctant to embrace insurance, or is the system failing to make insurance accessible and compelling? According to Girija Subramanian, Chairman-cum-Managing Director, The New India Assurance Co. Ltd., the issue is deeply rooted in perception and awareness. Speaking on the sidelines of the Economic Times (ET) MSME Awards 2024 in Delhi, Subramanian addressed this challenge in a fireside chat moderated by Neha Dewan, Assistant News Editor, The Economic Times.
Understanding the reluctance
Subramanian highlighted a stark disparity, citing a recent survey that suggests 75% of MSMEs perceive