IN A proactive initiative to strengthen grassroots engagement with MSMEs, VIA MSME Forum recently conducted its maiden ‘GUPSHUP with MSMEs’ programme at Duraweld Metsys Pvt Ltd, Hingna. The initiative was conceived as an interactive platform for open communication, candid feedback and peer-to-peer interaction, enabling VIA to better understand the experiences, challenges and aspirations of MSME entrepreneurs. VIA MSME Forum team, led by Kaushal Mohta, Secretary of VIA, and CA Girish Deodhar, Chairman, VIA MSME Forum and CA Nitin Agrawal, Jt Secretary, VIA, and CA Nitin Alsi were welcomed by Shekhar Patwardhan, Chairman, Duraweld Metsys Pvt Ltd, along with Directors Nikhil Patwardhan and Sumedh Patwardhan. The programme commenced with an introduction to Duraweld Metsys Pvt Ltd by Sumedh Patwardhan.

 

e shared the inspiring journey of the enterprise, which was promoted by Shekhar Patwardhan, a technocrat and first-generation entrepreneur, with a pioneering focus on manufacturing wear-resistant plates in India during 1991–92. Duraweld subsequently achieved national recognition, receiving the Presidential National Awards for Entrepreneurship and Quality Products from the then President of India, Late Dr Shankar Dayal Sharma, in July 1997.