World Trade Center Mumbai and All India Association of Industries (AIAI), in collaboration with the Government of Maharashtra and Sapio Analytics, hosted a high-impact employer session on MSME engagement and workforce development in Mumbai on April 30, 2026.
The session focused on aligning industry needs with skill development initiatives, bridging the education-employment gap, and fostering actionable partnerships for workforce transformation.
Driving Industry-Led Skilling for MSMEs
Dr. Vijay Kalantri, Chairman of World Trade Center Mumbai and President of AIAI, emphasized the need for practical, industry-driven skilling initiatives.
“MSMEs are among India’s most vibrant economic engines, contributing nearly 30% to India’s GDP, 45% to exports, and over 60% to employment, with over 7 crore enterprises across the country. Skilling, innovation, startups and incubation must move together, and policies must be practical, implementable and aligned with industry needs.”
He further highlighted the importance of addressing skill gaps, curbing brain drain, and aligning academic curricula with industry demands through stronger collaboration.
Government Initiatives and Skill Mapping
Shri Shailesh Bhagat, Hon. Assistant Commissioner, District Skill Development, Mumbai Suburban, outlined the Government of Maharashtra’s approach, including the Saksham Skill Census initiative.
“The Government is working closely with experts, training partners and employers to bridge the skill gap. Through the Saksham Skill Census, we are mapping candidates, training providers and industry requirements. We invite employers to actively participate so that training programmes can be aligned with actual workforce needs”.
AI-Powered Workforce Solutions
Hardik Somani, Co-Founder of Sapio Analytics, emphasized the role of AI in workforce planning.
“The Saksham Skill Census is not merely a survey; it is a structured effort to identify hidden talent, understand behavioural traits and match workforce capabilities with real industry demand. By using an AI-enabled workforce model, we aim to reduce the mismatch between education and employment and create customized skilling pathways for youth, homemakers and aspiring entrepreneurs”.
Strengthening Collaboration Through MoUs
A key highlight of the event was the signing of MoUs between World Trade Center Mumbai, AIAI, the Government of Maharashtra, and Sapio Analytics to enhance collaboration in skill development, employer engagement, and workforce planning.
Future-Ready Workforce Vision
In his closing remarks, Capt. Somesh Batra emphasized the need for innovation and future-ready skills.
“In a world shaped by geopolitical uncertainty, supply disruptions and rising costs, India must invest in innovation, infrastructure and future-ready skills. We must think big, study our real demand, support job creators and make ease of doing business a lived reality,”
The session concluded with a strong alignment between policy and industry, reinforcing the importance of execution-driven strategies to build a competitive and future-ready workforce ecosystem in India.