A Green Financing Workshop under the EU SWITCH-Asia Programme – Green Threads Project was successfully conducted in collaboration with Young Entrepreneurs Society (YES), engaging over 150 MSMEs and exporters from the textile and home furnishing sector.
The workshop focused on enabling businesses to explore green financing solutions, understand policy support frameworks and prepare for evolving sustainability regulations in global markets, particularly the European Union.
The session was organised by the Foundation for MSME Clusters (FMC) in partnership with Copenhagen Business School and SIDBI, bringing together key stakeholders including the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) and the Haryana MSME Department.
Opening the session, Rajat Grover emphasised the urgency for MSMEs to align with global sustainability standards to remain competitive.
A major highlight was the introduction of SIDBI’s green financing instruments, including SPICE, EDGE, working capital solutions, machinery loans, Sthapan and EV financing, aimed at supporting sustainable business transitions. Participants were also briefed on the BEE ADEETIE Scheme, which promotes energy efficiency investments.
Officials from the Haryana Government outlined various state-level incentives under the Haryana Enterprise & Employment Policy (HEEP), including freight assistance, market development support, testing equipment subsidies, quality certification, stamp duty reimbursement and electricity duty exemptions. Additional insights were shared on the Haryana Textile Policy and the PADMA Scheme focused on pollution abatement in textile dyeing units.
A key milestone during the workshop was the launch of Sustainable Production Manuals tailored for the Panipat Textile Recycling Cluster. Additionally, a Digital Product Passport (DPP) pilot programme was introduced with support from Green Story, aimed at enhancing traceability and data readiness within the textile waste value chain.
The session also addressed upcoming European Union regulations, including Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and Waste Shipment Regulation (WSR). Participants were sensitised to the growing importance of traceability, circularity and compliance, particularly in the context of Digital Product Passports.
Industry leaders from YES, including Raman Chhabra, reaffirmed their commitment to supporting MSMEs in transitioning towards sustainable and globally competitive practices.
The workshop witnessed participation from key dignitaries including P. Shyam Sundar, Vikas Jangra, Sonica Chabra, Peter Lund Thomsen, Uzma and Devyani Hari, highlighting strong institutional backing for MSME sustainability initiatives.
The event concluded with a vote of thanks by Abhishek Naga, who reiterated FMC’s commitment to supporting MSMEs in their sustainability and compliance journey.
The Green Threads Project, supported by the EU SWITCH-Asia Programme, aims to accelerate the transition of India’s textile sector towards circular, resource-efficient and sustainable production. With increasing regulatory pressure from global markets, particularly the EU, initiatives like this play a critical role in helping MSMEs enhance competitiveness, improve environmental performance and build long-term resilience.
