SMEs play a vital role for the growth the country’s economy. They contribute 45% of the industrial output, 40% of exports, 42 million in employment, create one million jobs every year and produce more than 8000 products for the Indian and international markets. This is what one hears at most of the conferences for small and medium businesses and the same is said by most of the studies released at such conferences.

But this thought of being one of the major contributors to the country’s economy is rarely on the mind of an entrepreneur who is behind a small or a medium sized business. They are so engrossed dealing with the day-to-day problems of the business that they hardly have time to think of the economy of the country.

From having clarity of vision, to deciding the policies, dealing with the customers to the leave of the employees, everything has to be taken care of. It’s a 24X7 job. Whether in party or on train, all that an entrepreneur does is thinks about his business.

But with changing time the contribution of business has been recognized and several organizations have woken up to take the responsibility of hand holding SMEs. Even the government has realized the importance of small businesses to the nation’s economy.

Let us hope that SMEs have a better year in 2010.