MSMEs have growth opportunities, the challenge is in easing their access to credit: Manish Kothari, Kotak Mahindra Bank

Manish Kothari, Head of Commercial Banking at Kotak Mahindra Bank, sees a 7.2% GDP growth rate in FY25 as a major opportunity for MSME growth. With a current book size of over ₹75,000 crore, Kotak aims for 1.5-2x credit growth. Challenges include limited MSME registration and access to formal credit. Kothari advocates for innovative solutions like cash flow-backed lending and partnerships with fintechs to overcome these hurdles.