CICU Buyer–Seller Meet Day 1 Witnesses Massive Industry Footfall; Sets Strong Foundation for MSME–PSU Integration

Ludhiana, January 16, 2026: The first day of the Buyer–Seller Meet & Vendor Development Programme, organised by the Chamber of Industrial & Commercial Undertakings (CICU) in association with the Ministry of MSME, Government of India, witnessed an exceptional response from the industrial community, with over 900 visitors attending the event at the CICU Complex, Focal Point, Ludhiana, on Friday. The impressive turnout reflected the growing relevance of structured buyer–seller platforms in strengthening India’s MSME ecosystem.
The programme commenced with registration at 10.30 am, followed by the arrival of the Chief Guest and distinguished dignitaries. The formal inauguration was marked by the lighting of the ceremonial lamp, symbolising the beginning of a focused initiative aimed at strengthening vendor development, encouraging indigenous manufacturing, and building sustainable supply-chain linkages between MSMEs and large institutional buyers.
Welcoming the gathering, Ishita Thaman, Deputy Director, MSME-DFO, Ludhiana, highlighted the strategic importance of such programmes under the Government of India’s MSME development framework. She stated, “Vendor Development Programmes are among the most effective tools for MSME capacity building. They provide enterprises with direct exposure to buyer expectations, procurement systems, and quality benchmarks, enabling them to position themselves competitively in national and global supply chains.” She also lauded CICU for consistently acting as a bridge between policy and industry at the grassroots level.
Addressing the gathering, Upkar Singh Ahuja, President, CICU, delivered a strong message underscoring CICU’s long-term vision for the industrial growth of Punjab. “The overwhelming participation on Day 1 is a clear reflection of the trust industry places in CICU. Our mission is not limited to hosting events; it is about creating structured opportunities where MSMEs can engage, learn, and evolve into reliable vendors for large buyers and PSUs,” he said. He added that Ludhiana’s MSMEs possess immense manufacturing depth and innovation capacity, and platforms like this help align them with national priorities such as self-reliance, quality manufacturing, and supply-chain resilience.
The Guest of Honour, Hayato Yasumoto, DGM – Quality Control, Yanmar Agricultural Machinery India Pvt Ltd, shared valuable insights on international quality standards and supplier development. He encouraged MSMEs to focus on consistency, robust processes, and continuous improvement to meet global expectations and build long-term partnerships with multinational companies.
The programme was formally addressed by Pankaj Kumar Jha, IEDS, Joint Director, MSME-DFO, Ludhiana, who emphasised that buyer–seller meets are a cornerstone of the Government’s MSME engagement strategy. He noted that direct interaction with procurement decision-makers helps MSMEs better understand compliance requirements, technical standards, and documentation processes. The Chief Guest and Guest of Honour were felicitated, followed by a vote of thanks proposed by Krishan Kumar, Assistant Director, MSME-DFO, Ludhiana.
Post-lunch, the Technical Session drew a packed audience, with MSME participants actively engaging with procurement officials from leading PSUs. Sahil Goyal, SMM, Patiala Locomotive Works, shared insights on sourcing systems within Indian Railways, while Amit Kumar, AGM, Ordnance Cable Factory, Chandigarh, highlighted vendor opportunities in the defence manufacturing sector. Charanya Ambati, DGM (C&M), Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd, elaborated on procurement processes at PGCIL, and Deepak Sharma, GeM Facilitator for Punjab and UT Chandigarh, explained GeM registration and its advantages for MSMEs.
Participants expressed keen interest in the wide spectrum of products and solutions showcased, spanning engineering, auto components, electricals, defence-related manufacturing, and infrastructure support industries. The interactive sessions enabled meaningful dialogue, technical clarifications, and relationship-building between buyers and MSME exhibitors.
The session concluded with a vote of thanks by Prateek Kataria, Assistant Director, MSME-DFO, Ludhiana. CICU officials stated that the robust response on Day 1 has set a strong and positive tone for Day 2, with expectations of deeper technical engagement, wider buyer participation, and reinforced collaboration—further strengthening Ludhiana’s standing as a key manufacturing hub in North India.