AP Selected For Top 50 SMEs Awards
Eligible MSMEs from all districts of Andhra Pradesh have been invited to participate
VIJAYAWADA: Andhra Pradesh has been selected for the State SME Awards 2026 series, with the India SME Forum, in partnership with Axis Bank, launching the Top 50 SMEs of Andhra Pradesh, India's first state-level MSME recognition and growth platform.
The initiative aims to identify, recognise and nurture high-performing micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) across the state.
The organisers said Andhra Pradesh was selected because of its rapidly expanding industrial ecosystem, strong manufacturing and services base, growing export potential and a policy environment that supports MSME growth.
Enterprises from the manufacturing, services and trading sectors will be assessed on innovation, employment generation, technology adoption, exports and their contribution to economic development.
Unlike conventional award programmes, the initiative has been designed as a comprehensive growth platform. Enterprises selected among the Top 50 SMEs of Andhra Pradesh will automatically qualify for nomination to the India SME 100 Awards, subject to eligibility and evaluation criteria.
The selected enterprises will gain access to investors, venture capital funds, banks, NBFCs, fintech companies, technology firms, multinational corporations, export promotion agencies and international collaborators. They will also be invited to investor forums, buyer-seller meets, export development programmes, global trade missions, networking events, policy dialogues and technology adoption initiatives.
India SME Forum director general Sushma Morthania said the initiative aims to build a pipeline of globally competitive enterprises by connecting promising MSMEs with investors, financial institutions, technology partners and international business opportunities.
Axis Bank Group Head, Commercial Banking, Vijay Shetty said MSMEs remain a key pillar of India's economy and that the partnership seeks to recognise enterprises driving growth through innovation and sustainable business practices.
The evaluation will be based on business growth, financial performance, innovation, productivity, exports, digital transformation, corporate governance, sustainability and employment generation. The Top 50 enterprises will be honoured at a recognition ceremony attended by policymakers, industry leaders, investors and business representatives. Eligible MSMEs from all districts of Andhra Pradesh have been invited to participate.