New Delhi: The National Small Industries Corporation (NSIC) and the Quality Council of India (QCI) have signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen India’s Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) ecosystem.
Signed on 9 July 2026 in New Delhi, the partnership aims to create an integrated support framework for MSMEs by improving product quality, expanding digital opportunities, enhancing market access and supporting sustainable business growth.
The collaboration will help MSMEs become more competitive in domestic and international markets by combining NSIC’s extensive enterprise support network with QCI’s expertise in quality standards, accreditation and certification.
NSIC-QCI Partnership to Create Integrated MSME Growth Ecosystem
The MoU focuses on building a complete growth pathway for MSMEs by connecting key business development stages:
Quality Certification → Digital Commerce → Market Visibility → Market Access
Through this approach, MSMEs will be encouraged to adopt recognised quality standards, strengthen their digital presence, improve brand visibility and explore new business opportunities.
The initiative is expected to support small businesses in increasing their competitiveness, expanding customer reach and participating more effectively in national and global supply chains.
Read also: NSIC Partners with TransUnion CIBIL to Strengthen MSME Credit Awareness and Access to Finance
Focus on Quality Standards and Digital Transformation
A major objective of the partnership is to help MSMEs adopt globally recognised quality practices and digital solutions.
The collaboration will support:
- Quality certification and compliance.
- Digital commerce adoption.
- Better market visibility.
- Access to new buyers and business opportunities.
- Capacity building for enterprises and training institutions.
The initiative aligns with the Government of India’s vision of developing digitally empowered, quality-driven and globally competitive MSMEs.
Support Through Key MSME Initiatives
The NSIC-QCI collaboration will integrate several important national programmes aimed at strengthening MSME growth.
These include:
- MSME Sustainable Certification Scheme
- MSME Global Mart
- TEAM Initiative
- Single Point Registration Scheme
The partnership will also promote wider adoption of Zero Defect Zero Effect (ZED) Certification, improve testing and accreditation infrastructure, and expand training opportunities for MSMEs.
Boost for MSME Competitiveness and Global Market Participation
India’s MSME sector plays a crucial role in employment generation, manufacturing growth and exports.
The NSIC-QCI partnership is expected to help enterprises:
- Improve product quality.
- Build stronger market credibility.
- Access digital platforms.
- Increase export opportunities.
- Develop sustainable business models.
The initiative will contribute to creating a stronger, technology-enabled and globally connected MSME ecosystem in India.
Leaders Highlight Importance of MSME Quality Development
Speaking at the MoU signing event, Dr. Subhransu Sekhar Acharya, Chairman-cum-Managing Director, NSIC, said that the collaboration will help create a stronger ecosystem that enables enterprises to compete confidently in domestic and global markets.
Dr. A. Raj, Senior Director and Head, National Division for Industry Excellence, QCI, highlighted that the partnership will improve MSME competitiveness, strengthen quality awareness and further support QCI’s National Quality Campaign.
About Quality Council of India (QCI)
The Quality Council of India (QCI) is a national body established to promote quality standards, accreditation systems and continuous improvement across industries and services. It works to enhance quality consciousness and support India’s competitiveness through certification and quality initiatives.
About National Small Industries Corporation (NSIC)
The National Small Industries Corporation (NSIC) is a Government of India enterprise under the Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME). It supports small businesses through marketing assistance, technology support, finance facilitation, skill development and business growth programmes.
Read also: NSIC Signs MoU with Andhra Pradesh MSME Corporation to Boost Digital Commerce for MSMEs
