AMFI-WB in association with M2i, Equifax, MFIN & Sa-Dhan organized the 9th Eastern India Microfinance Summit 2025 in Kolkata

 

Kolkata : The Association of Microfinance Institutions – West Bengal (AMFI-WB) organized the 9th Edition of Eastern India Microfinance Summit 2025 in association with M2i, Equifax, MFIN & Sa-Dhan. This year the theme of the Summit was ‘Microfinance - On the path to $5 Trillion Economy through Women Entrepreneurship & Financial Empowerment.’

 

Microfinance is widely recognized as a powerful tool, contributing to and propelling towards achieving sustainable development goals. Its multifaceted roles encompass some of the key aspects instrumental in fostering sustainable development. Through financial inclusion, microfinance democratizes access to capital, empowering marginalized communities and amplifying economic participation. It contributes to poverty alleviation, offering avenues for entrepreneurship and job creation. Microfinance also champions gender equality by providing women with access to financial services. As a catalyst for change, microfinance intertwines financial empowerment with social empowerment, paving the way towards a more inclusive and sustainable future.  This year's session is expected to be attended by the MFI practitioners, regulators and funders to discuss most pertinent issues facing the sector.

 

India’s ambitious goal to achieve a USD 5 trillion economy by 2027 places key emphasis on the contribution of its three broad sectors: services, manufacturing, and agriculture. Of the targeted GDP, the service sector is expected to contribute USD 3 trillion, while the manufacturing and agriculture sectors are projected to collectively contribute USD 2 trillion. Microfinance and other regulated financial entities are poised to play a crucial role in achieving this target by supporting the financial needs of these sectors, particularly manufacturing and agriculture with special focus on women as entrepreneurs.

 

The landscape of India's financial sector is rapidly evolving. Traditionally served by Banks, the financial system has seen the rise of innovative and alternative intermediaries, such as Microfinance institutions (MFIs), Fintech companies, Digital Service providers and a completely new set of innovative and efficient models and products. These organizations are enhancing the flow of credit, financial and other services, particularly to underserved segments of the population, contributing to growth across multiple sectors. The use of advanced technologies in digital financial services, Generative AI is transforming the way services are reached, financial transactions are processed and financial inclusion is achieved, significantly boosting the financial sector’s contribution to India's economic growth.

 

An interesting aspect of this financial evolution is the adoption of digital financial services by the base of the pyramid and underserved communities, including those in remote areas. By providing access to financial services, technology is fostering new livelihood opportunities, improving family incomes, social security and offering better access to essential services such as healthcare and education. Additionally, these developments are helping build resilience to climate risks and natural disasters, which are becoming more prevalent in India.

 

The 9th Eastern India Microfinance Summit in 2025, themed "Microfinance - On the path to $5 Trillion Economy through Women Entrepreneurship & Financial Empowerment," presented a critical platform for practitioners across various sectors-Banking, Microfinance, Investors, Insurance, Fintech, and Health services-to come together. The summit provided an opportunity for stakeholders to share insights and collaborate on strategies to contribute toward the overarching goal of building a USD 5 trillion economy, with a special focus on women’s entrepreneurship and financial empowerment as drivers of this transformation. Besides, will provide an opportunity to identify common opportunities for partnership.