In a timely signal to the fast-evolving traditional medicine economy, an industry interactive session titled “Fostering Growth: SME Schemes and Opportunities for the Ayush Industry” was convened today by the Ayush Export Promotion Council (AYUSHEXCIL), with support from the Ministry of AYUSH and Rastriya Ayurved Vidyapeeth. The event brought together key government and industry leaders to map a growth-oriented, innovation-driven roadmap for Ayush-focused micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

The session spotlighted a critical inflection point: India’s Ayush sector, long rooted in heritage, is now poised for scale—but that path runs through the MSME corridor. With the sector’s contribution to exports and wellness tourism steadily rising, speakers emphasized the need to integrate quality assurance, scientific validation, and modern logistics to unlock the next phase of growth.

Dr. Kousthubha Upadhyaya, Adviser to the Ministry of Ayush, opened the session by underscoring the foundational role MSMEs play in democratising the Ayush industry’s value chain—from raw material sourcing to branded consumer products. His remarks were followed by a strategic presentation from Anuja Bapat, Joint Secretary at the Ministry of MSME, who unpacked a portfolio of central schemes designed to elevate Ayush-oriented enterprises through access to finance, digital tools, and market linkages.

A noteworthy highlight came from Prof. (Dr.) Mahesh Kumar Dadhich, CEO of the National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB), who spotlighted the untapped commercial potential of Sea Buckthorn—a high-altitude medicinal plant with applications across nutraceuticals, dermatology, and functional foods. In a similar spirit of opportunity mapping, Ritu Sain, Investment Commissioner of Chhattisgarh, presented emerging state-level incentives aimed at positioning the region as a manufacturing and processing hub for Ayush products.

But the session’s central theme was clear: scale with standards. Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, Secretary, Ministry of Ayush, and S.C.L. Das, Secretary, Ministry of MSME, called for a twin focus on raising quality benchmarks and ensuring scalability across the sector. Their joint vision echoed a broader strategy—transforming India’s Ayush MSMEs from legacy enterprises into globally competitive, innovation-led firms.

With rising global demand for holistic wellness solutions and a renewed policy thrust on traditional systems of medicine, the Ayush sector is no longer on the sidelines of India’s economic transformation. If leveraged smartly, MSMEs could serve as the sector’s launchpad—not just for domestic growth but for global leadership.