India’s MSME and logistics sectors must become more efficient, technology-led and cleaner if the country is to sustain long-term economic growth, industry leaders from Porter, Indofast Energy and Blue Energy Motors said ahead of MSME Day and National Logistics Day.
The remarks come as India’s small businesses, delivery networks and fleet operators face rising pressure to move goods faster, reduce operating costs and transition towards lower-emission mobility — all while keeping the country’s vast commercial engine running without too many traffic jams, literal or economic.
Uttam Digga, CEO of Porter, said MSMEs and logistics are deeply connected, with efficient goods movement playing a critical role in helping small businesses grow.
“World MSME Day and Logistics Day fall back-to-back, a fitting reminder of how deeply interconnected the two are. Behind every successful small business is an ecosystem that helps it move, grow and serve its customers reliably,” Digga said.
He noted that India’s more than 7 crore MSMEs contribute nearly one-third of the country’s GDP, close to half of its exports, and support the livelihoods of over 32 crore people. However, he said that for many entrepreneurs, growth depends not only on capital or market access, but also on the ability to move goods efficiently and reliably.
“Logistics plays a critical role in keeping businesses running every day. India has rightly made reducing logistics costs a national priority as it works towards improving competitiveness and achieving global benchmarks,” Digga said.
He added that investments in highways, multimodal connectivity, logistics parks and integrated infrastructure planning are helping create a more efficient goods movement ecosystem across the country.
According to Digga, policy frameworks that support innovation and provide consistent treatment for technology-enabled goods transport players can help improve efficiency and give MSMEs better access to reliable and affordable logistics services.
“Technology can help bridge existing gaps by improving utilisation, increasing transparency and bringing greater structure to the ecosystem,” he said. “When logistics becomes more reliable and efficient, the benefits extend far beyond transportation, strengthening MSME competitiveness, improving productivity and creating a more resilient foundation for economic growth.”
Digga said India’s ambition of becoming a developed economy would require a stronger link between MSMEs and efficient logistics.
“When logistics works better, small businesses grow faster, and when MSMEs grow, India grows with them,” he said.
Subhash Bhat, Interim CEO of Indofast Energy, said battery swapping can directly address some of the biggest challenges faced by delivery workers, small fleet operators and MSME-led logistics networks.
“India’s delivery ecosystem, small fleet operators and MSME-led logistics networks depend on maximizing time on the road – every minute spent charging is earnings lost across the entire value chain,” Bhat said.
He said battery swapping helps remove two major barriers to EV adoption for commercial users: range anxiety and charging downtime.
“A two-minute swap replaces 4-6 hours of charging time, that otherwise leads to lost income and reduced productivity for the entire value chain,” he said.
Indofast Energy, a joint venture between SUN Mobility and IndianOil, currently operates a network of 1,800+ stations across 23 cities, supporting over 100,000+ livelihoods, according to Bhat.
He said the company’s network enables up to 40% lower running costs compared to petrol, while fleet partners have reported per-bike operating costs falling from Rs.320 to nearly Rs.230 per day.
“Beyond cost savings, we are witnessing EV adoption emerge as a powerful enabler of economic mobility,” Bhat said. “For thousands of gig workers and delivery partners, access to reliable battery-swapping infrastructure is helping improve earnings predictability, reduce downtime, and create opportunities for greater financial stability.”
He added that as the ecosystem matures, the shift could strengthen pathways towards entrepreneurship, asset ownership and long-term livelihood growth.
Anand Mimani, CEO – EV & New Energy Business, Blue Energy Motors, said India’s logistics sector is entering a defining decade in which growth must be driven by speed, efficiency, sustainability and energy security.
“As the nation advances towards becoming a global economic powerhouse, the freight industry has a critical role to play in reducing dependence on imported oil and accelerating the transition to cleaner transportation,” Mimani said.
He said the future of freight would depend on a diversified green mobility ecosystem, with electric trucks supporting short-haul operations and LNG emerging as a practical, lower-carbon option for long-haul transportation.
“Together, these technologies can strengthen energy resilience, improve fleet economics, and significantly reduce emissions,” he said.
Mimani added that Blue Energy Motors remains committed to building a smarter, cleaner and more efficient logistics ecosystem.
The comments underline a wider shift in India’s transport and logistics landscape, where digital platforms, battery swapping, electric mobility and alternative fuels are increasingly moving from boardroom buzzwords to operational necessities. For India’s MSMEs, the message from industry is clear: the road to faster growth may quite literally depend on better roads, smarter fleets and fewer hours spent waiting to recharge.
