Impact of COVID-19 pandemic

on micro, small, and medium

enterprises (MSMEs)
India report
June, 2020
MSMEs during
COVID-19 India report
Provides a detailed country-level view of the impact of COVID-19 on
MSMEs*, their coping strategies, and recommendations for policymakers
and financial service providers to support them

01 Recommendations
Authors:
Aakash Mehrotra, Abhishek Anand, 02 Impact of COVID-19 on MSMEs
Gayatri, Manoj Nayak, Mohak Srivastava,
Nitish Narain, Shobhit Mishra, Surbhi Sood
03 Coping strategies of MSMEs
Research partners:
Margdarshak Financial Services Limited, Annex
MIMO technologies Private Limited

*Our study primarily focuses on the micro and small enterprises in India. The research findings may not be valid for medium enterprises.

2 All rights reserved. This document is proprietary and confidential.

India
At the time of data collection (April, 2020),
the Government of India exclusively
allowed businesses classified as “essential
services” to operate. All other businesses
were shut. Therefore, in our sample, 74% of
businesses, largely dealing with retail trade
in essential commodities, were operating
while the remaining 26% were shut.

01 Recommendations
Adopt immediate measures to boost the income and reduce the burden of
expenses on MSMEs
Measures to support the income of MSMEs Measures to reduce the burden of expenses
Key insights Key insights
The decline in demand together with supply disruption has The increase in transportation costs due to the COVID-19
resulted in a sharp decline in the income of MSMEs. pandemic has raised the overall business expenses for MSMEs.

Uncertainty around future income due to the spread of the MSMEs report challenges in managing household expenses due to
pandemic and declining purchasing power among customers has adverse cash-flows.
endangered the survival of MSMEs.

Recommendations Recommendations
Provide Direct Benefit Transfer to microenterprises for three months to Provide subsidy on utilities, that is, electricity and water,
01 help them manage immediate expenses 01 particularly to enterprises engaged in manufacturing

Expand preference for procurement under government contracts, Allow financial institutions to continue the loan moratorium on a
provided MSMEs exist that can fulfill the market demand. Government case-to-case basis for at least another six months. Extension of the
contracts below INR 10 crore (USD 1.3 million) in value should be 02 moratorium should be across intermediaries, banks, as well as NBFCs.
02
reserved for microenterprises and up to INR 50 crore (USD 6.6 million) in This will provide MSMEs some liquidity in the short term.
value for small enterprises.

Create an enabling environment for the MSMEs to ensure their The government can further provide interest subvention on loans to
participation in the bidding process for the contract and remove the micro and small enterprises through the MUDRA scheme
03 03
obstacles they face in procurement of bank guarantees* (especially for
microenterprises)

*A bank guarantee serves as a promise from a financial institution that it will assume liability for a particular debtor if its contractual obligations are not met.

4 All rights reserved. This document is proprietary and confidential.

Increase access to appropriate financial services and promote the adoption of
relevant digital technologies among MSMEs
Measures to boost access to finance Measures to promote digitization of MSMEs
Key insights Key insights
The availability of credit from suppliers to MSMEs has declined. MSMEs have started to use social media for business purposes.

MSMEs, particularly whose businesses are shut due to the A few MSMEs have also started using e-commerce platforms to
lockdown, have begun tapping into their savings to meet reach out to customers.
expenses.

Recommendations Recommendations
Banks should increase the existing limits on working capital to MSMEs by Expand the scope of the existing Business Immunity Platform to cover
01 35-50%. The government can provide credit guarantee on the extended 01 information related to e-commerce and social commerce, digital
limit payments, and alternate modes of financing including those from the
private sector
Promote collaboration of FinTechs with traditional financial institutions
to offer faster loans to MSMEs, which have limited business records or Introduce tax incentives for MSMEs for sales on e-commerce
02 transaction trails; data available on GST, Aadhaar, and income tax can
02
platforms
be used for registered enterprises and alternative mechanisms for the
others

Encourage banks to use business correspondents for credit check and

03 03
KYC to deliver credit to rural MSMEs

5 All rights reserved. This document is proprietary and confidential.

Enhance the impact of policy through better targeting of informal enterprises
together with well-defined monitoring systems
Measures to improve targeting of informal enterprises Measures to enhance the impact of policy

Key insights Key insights

Due to lack of data, unregistered or informal microenterprises Most MSMEs are unaware of any key steps taken by the
usually remain deprived of government relief packages government to support the sector

Most enterprises reported a lack of information on support from

the government or private sector

Recommendations Recommendations
Ensure coverage of Shishu* and Kishore* loan borrowers under the All MSME policies should accompany an action plan to ensure rapid
01 MUDRA scheme in all COVID relief packages. Almost all these borrowers 01 implementation of these policies
are informal microenterprises

Ensure simple processes for unorganized enterprises registered under

various national, state, and local governments to seek COVID-specific Develop agile policies for the different phases of the COVID-19
02 cash transfers. Use this opportunity to register and formalize
02 pandemic along with exit strategies
microenterprises

Local government bodies can be used to target informal and

Ensure monitoring systems for all the COVID relief measures are
unregistered enterprises not covered above to offer COVID relief
in place. This will help to assess progress and take corrective
03 benefits. These bodies along with third-party agencies or NGOs can be 03
03 measures as needed
used to collect data on unregistered MSMEs at the village or block level

*Shishu- loans up to INR 50,000 (USD 662); Kishore- loans above INR 50,000 (USD 662) and up to INR 500,000 (USD 6,620)

6 All rights reserved. This document is proprietary and confidential.

02 Impact of COVID-19 on MSMEs
The income for businesses has reduced substantially due to a fall in demand
73% businesses reported a decrease in Enterprises that reported a decrease in Fewer customer footfalls amid lockdown
customer footfall the customer footfall; the decrease is of
a median value of 45%
The reduction in customer footfall was uniform across
20% 50% enterprises owned by men and women.
40% 40%
39% of enterprises were not able to restock as per the
7% demand largely due to a reduction in supply
• Restocking is a bigger issue in rural areas where 85% of
73% enterprises have not able been to restock
Enterprises that reported a decrease in volume of supply also
Decreased Increased Same as before Rural Semi urban Urban
n=152 n=79
reported a median 50% reduction in household income*

Nearly half the enterprises reported a Enterprises that reported a decrease in

decrease in volume of supplies volume of supplies; the decrease is of a “My shop is open and business is running, but the footfall has
median value of 40% gone down drastically. Everyone is afraid that the police will
beat them up if they step out during the lockdown. Only those
40% who desperately need medicines visit my shop.” – a medical
44%
48% shop owner from a rural area
35% 35%
“Sales are down by more than 75% since last month. Retailers
are demanding tea but I am unable to supply to them as
8%
Rural Semi urban Urban
transport options are not available.” - a female tea distributor
Decreased Increased Same as before from a semi-urban area
n=106 n=47

*Note: For MSMEs, the household income and business income are usually fungible

8 All rights reserved. This document is proprietary and confidential.

Disrupted supply chains have further affected income
Business costs have largely remained unchanged. However, an increase in Declining income and rising expenses: a double whammy
transportation costs for about one-third of the enterprises hints at disruptions in the
supply chain.* 37% of enterprises reported an increase in transportation
37% costs by a median of 20%
While urban enterprises reported a median 20% increase in
transportation costs, semi-urban and rural enterprises
reported a 10% and 18% increase respectively

6% In rural areas, 63% enterprises had to go and pick supplies

3%
0% themselves. This is one of the contributors to increased
transportation cost.
Transportation costs Staff costs Utility cost Other costs
n=101 n=72 n=126 n=81 Moreover, about 75% of the women-owned enterprises
mentioned that they now have to go and pick up all the
Change in delivery of supplies after COVID 19: 77% of enterprises have to go pick up
supplies themselves
all their supplies

“We are incurring additional transportation cost to get the

77%
supplies on time. There is already a huge demand and supply
Doorstep delivery of all supplies
gap in the market.” – a grocery shop owner from a rural area
Go to pick up all the supplies

Go to pick up additional supplies only “Whenever I call my distributors to deliver my supplies, they
11% 11%
ask me to come to the warehouse and take the supply. This is
Doorstep delivery of additional supplies
1% not an option right now.” - a medical shop owner from a rural
n=74
area

*Most enterprises stated that their costs have remained unchanged. This is not presented in the graph.

9 All rights reserved. This document is proprietary and confidential.

While the overall income for MSMEs has reduced, panic buying or bulk buying
from customers has mitigated the impact for some enterprises
3/4th of the enterprises reported a Enterprises that reported a decrease in
decrease in income income, the decrease is of a median Is hoarding a bad thing? Not for enterprises at least.
value of 50%
22% 60% The drop in income was relatively more common for female-
50% owned enterprises. 82% of enterprises owned by women
40% reported a decline in income compared to 72% of enterprises
4%
owned by men
74% However, bulk buying has resulted in higher sales per
customer: a median 40% increase for urban enterprises, 20%
for semi-urban enterprises, and 15% for rural enterprises.
Decrease Increase Same as before
Rural Semi urban Urban However, customer footfall has decreased for all enterprises
n=152 n=112
in rural, semi-urban and urban areas.

Nearly half the enterprises reported an Enterprises that reported an increase “I used to earn around INR 5,000-7,000 (USD 67-93) per day,
increase in sales per customers in sales per customer; the increase is
of a median value of 25% now it is only INR 2,000 (USD 27) per day.” - a medical shop
owner from a rural area
40%
29% 25%
“These days I am not able to get new orders from customers as
they cannot travel to deliver clothes for stitching.” – a female
20%
15% tailor from a rural area
Decreased “Some of my customers have started buying in bulk now to
Increased stock up during the lockdown period.” - a tobacco and snacks
46% Same as before trader based in an urban area
Rural Semi urban Urban
n=104 n=48

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A decline in the availability of supplier credit alongside pending receivables
and an increase in the cost of supplies has hurt cash-flows
Though 74% of enterprises reported the same situation as before in terms of credit Need money to earn money
from suppliers, 25% reported facing challenges on this front

Qualitative data suggests that receivables from customers are

74% 25% 1%
Same as before frozen on the one hand and customers have stopped advance
orders on the other hand
Reduced or no credit from
suppliers Enterprises who reported an increase in cost of supplies, also
More suppliers offering reported a median 50% reduction in business income*
credit
n=104

43% of enterprises reported an increase Enterprises that reported an increase cost of

in the cost of supplies supplies; the increase is of a median value
of 20%
“I had some customers who would pay their pending credit on
6%
a weekly or a monthly basis. It has been more than a month
20%
now since I have received any payments from them.”
51% 10% – a tobacco and snacks trader from an urban area
43% 12.5%
“We can take care of the business for 1-2 months but beyond
that, it is not possible to bear the expenses. Our payments are
Urban Semi urban Rural
already blocked.” – a motor part manufacturer from an urban
Decreased Increased Same as before area
n=103 n= 44

*Note: For MSMEs, the household income and business income are usually fungible

11 All rights reserved. This document is proprietary and confidential.

Adverse cash-flows along with increased household expenses have forced
enterprises to dig into their savings
One-fourth of the enterprises surveyed reported an increase in household Savings for survival
expenses

Enterprises that reported an increase in household expenses

30%
also reported a 45% decrease in business income
46%

24%
“My business closed down after the lockdown. Since only
n=152
Decreased Increased Same as before essential goods and medical shops are allowed to function. All
my savings are being used to meet household expenses now.”
Enterprises that reported an increase in household expenses; the increase is of a – a sweet shop owner from an urban area
median value of 23%
“We have family savings that we depend on. These emergency
50%
Rural savings will last for a only a few months. I do not know how
Semi urban long the COVID-19 lockdown will continue.” – a female tailor
from a rural area
Urban
“I am currently using my savings to meet my business
18% expenses. I think I can sustain for 5-6 months, after which I
11% will need support from the government and financial
institutions.” – a garment trader from an urban are

n=36

12 All rights reserved. This document is proprietary and confidential.

03 Coping strategies of MSMEs
In the absence of any cure for COVID-19 in the foreseeable future, the
uncertainty among MSMEs is palpable
From the Janta Curfew* to extended lockdowns: the Back to normal: Eid or Diwali?
long-lasting impact of COVID-19 on the future of MSMEs With no clear timeline for when the pandemic will end, micro
and small enterprises fear that they will not be able to
There are two groups of entrepreneurs: one group expects a revival in
benefit from the rush during festivals.
business and sales in a 30 to 90 day period while the other expects that it
will take between 91 and 180 days for their businesses to normalize. Most of these MSMEs do not have any plan to normalize sales
1st group 2nd group

Expected number
of days for which
30-90 business will 91-180 “Business is not going to improve before Diwali (mid-
remain
Days disturbed#
Days November) or even the end of November, 2020. This is because
the pandemic will have a bad impact on the purchasing power
of customers. Consumers will not spend money on luxury items
• The first group comprises mostly traders and service providers of or the not-so-essentials. We have to wait at least till Diwali
essential items. They are relatively optimistic and hope that people before the sales revive.” - a wholesale trader of electronic
will spend on the items they sell irrespective of their purchasing goods from a rural area
power
“The brand will ramp up its supply chain very soon. The
• The second group comprises mostly manufacturers, traders, and situation will get normal by Eid or May end. We deal in
services engaged in non-essential items. These items typically fall essential items and as they are big corporates, they know a
under discretionary expenses for customers. These enterprises expect way to get around with this situation.” - a female tea
job losses and disruption in business. distributor from a semi-urban area
#The analysis here is based on qualitative data.
*The Janata Curfew was a 14-hour curfew (from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.) that was scheduled on 22nd March, 2020 in India before the total lockdown. Everyone, except for individuals and organizations engaged in “essential
services,” such as police, medical services, media, home delivery professionals, and firefighters were expected to take part in the curfew

14 All rights reserved. This document is proprietary and confidential.

To cope with the crisis, enterprises have started looking for ways to reduce
their business costs and increase their revenue
Around one-fourth of the respondent entrepreneurs have started selling new
products and services to cope with the crisis
Is there scope for new possibilities?

Entrepreneurs have started to stock easily accessible essential

Yes, started selling new items that are in high demand among customers.
products/services,
24% About 40% of enterprises reported increased safety and
hygiene measures.

No change, “I am planning to start selling essential food items. I already

76%
have a license for this. This way, I will earn something during
n=107
this lockdown. Also, after the crisis is over, I am planning to
offer some discounts to clear the old stock.” - a leather goods
trader based in an urban area
Around 26% enterprises reported a reduction in staff to almost zero
“70% of my business expense is staff salaries.” – a perforated
steel sheet manufacturer from a semi-urban area
Staff reduced to zero,
26%

Around one-fourth of the enterprises have reduced their staff

count to zero to minimize cost.*
No change, 90% of entrepreneurs mentioned that if they have to keep
74% paying staff salaries without taking their services, they may
have to lay them off.
n=74

*Note: This does not imply that the enterprises have laid off staff. There is also a possibility that the staff may not be available due to restrictions on movement during the lockdown.

15 All rights reserved. This document is proprietary and confidential.

Borrowing and freeing up cash from inventory are the key strategies to
managing the immediate shock to the cash flow
31% women prefer to borrow to sustain Borrowing for business is more
their enterprises compared to only 15% men pronounced in rural areas Seeking alternate options to manage short-term cash-flows

20% of respondents borrowed from friends, neighbours, or

31%
31% relatives to meet the immediate needs of cash flow.
A few enterprises also reduced the volume and variety of
15% 17%
goods they sell to cope with uncertain demand. This has
10%
helped them to cut costs and direct funds to meet household
needs.
Women Men
Rural Semi-urban Urban
n=152

A little less than half of all enterprises have adopted some strategy to
cope with the impacts on business, with freeing up the inventory being “I am currently using my savings and have borrowed some
the most common
money from my father to meet business expenses. I think I can
58%
sustain for five to six months after which I will need support
from the government.” - a garment trader from an urban area

20%
“I have enough inventory for two months. Even manufacturing
16%
units engaged in essential commodities are running at 30% of
their capacity. I will now buy raw material judiciously based
Reduced volume of goods for Reduced variety of goods No change
on the demand.” - a perforated steel sheet manufacturer from
sale a semi-urban area
n=152

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A few MSMEs have resorted to increasing the price of goods and limiting credit
sales to sustain cash-flows
46% of enterprises reported an increase Enterprises that reported an increase Maximizing revenue and a no-credit policy
in price of goods sold in price of goods sold; the increase is
of a median value of 20%
4% 48% of male-owned enterprises reported an increase in the
30% price of goods compared to 35% of women-owned enterprises
15% of enterprises dealing in essential services mentioned a
51% 46%
reduction in credit sales
10%
5%

Decreased Increased Same as before Rural Semi-urban Urban

n=105

14% of enterprises reported a decrease in credit to customers

“I am in no position to offer any sales on credit to customers,
14% even to my most loyal customers,” - a grocery shop owner
from an urban area
6%

80%

Decreased Increased Same as before

n=104

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Enterprises have shown a greater use of digital technologies to continue
business operations adhering to containment measures
Almost a third of enterprises have started using social media, such as WhatsApp and
Facebook to communicate and accept business orders Use of digital media—a way out to revive the business?
Social media for business
WhatsApp is the most preferred social media platform among
59% 59%
MSMEs to run their business in the post-COVID-19 situation.
34% 33% They are using it widely to take orders from customers and to
7% 8% communicate with suppliers. The use of WhatsApp is highest
in urban areas and among men.
With customers With suppliers
Delivering through e-commerce websites
Yes No Same as before
n=102
10% of the respondents, most of whom are men in urban
areas, have already established partnerships with e-
commerce players. It is helping local grocery stores to ensure
More than half of the respondents have increased the usage of digital
payments the availability of essential supplies for consumers.
Acceptance of digital payments has increased marginally
61% The pandemic has led to increased adoption of digital
57%
payments across urban and rural areas. Over 60% of
38% 38%
respondents have reported a decline in the proportion of
cash transactions.
5%
1% However, most of the entrepreneurs continue to accept cash.
Cash Digital This is either to maintain liquidity or to comply with
Increased Decreased Same as before customer demand for cash transactions.
n=100

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Annex
Unprecedented support at the time of an unprecedented crisis
Credit related (short-term and
Instant liquidity measures Other relief measures and benefits
long-term)

• Pending tax refunds to be issued • Allowed filing of Goods and Services Tax
• INR 3,000 billion (USD 39.7 billion)
immediately (GST) returns for the months of March,
collateral-free loan: emergency credit
• Both employer and employee April, and May by 30th June without
line to businesses or MSMEs from banks
contributions for employees’ interest, late fee, or penalty
and NBFCs up to 20% of the entire
provident fund to be paid by the outstanding credit as on 29th February, • e-market linkage for MSMEs to be
government; employees allowed to promoted to act as a replacement for
Government 2020
withdraw up to 75% of their deposits trade fairs and exhibitions
• INR 200 billion (USD 2.7 billion)
from EPFO • MSME receivables from government and
subordinated debt for stressed MSMEs
central public sector enterprises (CPSEs)
• Funds of funds: a corpus of INR 500
to be released in 45 days
billion (USD 6.6 billion) as equity
infusion for MSMEs with growth
potential and viability
• Six-months’ moratorium on • Refinance support through National • Reduction in repo rate (reduced by
repayments of all term loans and Bank for Agriculture and Rural 115 basis points since February
Regulator working capital loans from 1st March Development (USD 3 billion) and SIDBI 2020) by Reserve Bank of India to
to 31st August, 2020 (~USD 2 billion) for financial institutions support the lower rates of interest
that lend to MSMEs on loans given by banks

• Small Industries Development Bank of • Refinance scheme* from SIDBI for

Financial India (SIDBI) to provide special financial institutions that offer credit
service liquidity support to MSMEs through services to MSMEs (*The scheme would
non-banking financial companies and provide resource support to NBFCs by way of
providers term loans to ensure operational continuity
microfinance institutions
and promote onward lending to MSME sector)
Note: This is not an exhaustive list on measures taken to provide relief against COVID 19; Details are based on information available till 26th May 2020
Source: Government of India; Reserve Bank of India

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 Status of the MSME sector in India
Definition of MSME for manufacturing and services^, based Growth of MSMEs^
on investment in plant and machinery
1200 40%
Manufacturing sector Annual investment amount in plant and
machinery 35%
1000 This is a sample text.
Medium enterprises INR 50 million to INR 100 million Insert your desired text here. 30%
800
Small enterprises INR 2.5 million to INR 50 million 25%

Micro enterprises Does not exceed INR 2.5 million 600 20%

Services sector Annual investment amount in equipment 15%

400
Medium enterprises INR 20 million to INR 50 million 10%
200
Small enterprises INR 1 million to INR 20 million 5%

Micro enterprises Does not exceed INR 1 million 0 0%

2006-07 2017-18

No. of enterprises (100,000) Employment (100,000) Share in GDP (%)

Proportion of MSMEs in India^
Small enterprises 0.01% Data on MSMEs
0.52%
Number of MSMEs
Medium enterprises

INR 320
63.3 34% 69% billion
99.47%
million Growth rate of MSME of MSMEs are Or USD 4.5 billion is
Microenterprises employment in unregistered# being lost every day
services sector^ during the lockdown*

Source: ^https://msme.gov.in/sites/default/files/Annualrprt.pdf, *https://www.thehindu.com/business/businesslive-30-april-2020/article31469263.ece; #NSSO survey 2015-16 (India)

21 All rights reserved. This document is proprietary and confidential.

Assessing the economic impact of COVID-19 on MSMEs

The objective of the research Approach

Understand and quantify the impact of COVID-19 on MSMEs. We will adopt a two-pronged approach:
Inform policy and support subsequent efforts to rebuild the MSME segment Quantitative survey to be administered by branch managers of MFIs and
Assess the impact of COVID-19 on: enumerators of survey agencies, in three rounds:
o Revenues and costs o Immediate
o Supply chains o After one to two months
o Business activities and product range o After three to four months (or after the complete lockdowns are
o Liquidity management lifted)
Explore options to minimize threats and maximize business opportunities A qualitative panel of 15 MSMEs interviewed by MSC staff
Assess gender implications
Understand the current use of communication channels and identify
opportunities to be utilized
Understand the role of COVID-19 and its impact on entrepreneur’s networks
and trust
Assess private and public sector support services

Research coverage

Research country: India

Locations: Rural, semi-urban and urban areas
Quantitative sample size: 152 respondents
Qualitative sample size: 15 respondents

22 All rights reserved. This document is proprietary and confidential.

Respondents’ profile

Quantitative research: Sample profile of 152 MEs Qualitative research: Sample profile of 15 MSMEs

Location of 28% 26% 46% Location of 6 2 7

business business
Rural Semi-urban Urban Rural Semi-urban Urban

Gender of
ownership
74% 26% Gender of
ownership 12 3
Men Women Men Women

Nature of 2% 34% 64% Nature of 4 7 4

business business
Manufacturing Trading Services Manufacturing Trading Services

Business
category
82% 18% Business
category 3 12
Essential Others Essential Others

Age profile 53% 47% Size of

business*
10 5
16-40 41+ Micro Small & Medium

Note: The quantitative sample does not represent the overall MSME population in India. We have used median values in location-wise splits because the sample size per location is low.
* As per the existing definition of MSMEs

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