New Delhi, July 2 (KNN) The Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT) and PayPal will work together on a research assignment learning the impact of digitalization on the trade performance of the Indian MSME sector. 

Manoj Pant, Professor and VC, IIFT will head the study along with Sugandha Huria and Neha Jain (Assistant Professors of Economics) as co-principal investigators and research associates, Kriti Sharma and Ashley Jose.

The study envisages to study the growth of MSMEs in the recent years where digitalization has emerged as a key driver of business growth, especially after the onset of covid-19 pandemic.

It will also aim to understand the how MSMEs, being inadequately digitalized have impacted their growth.

The study will delve deeper into the impact, challenges, and opportunities of digitalization on Indian MSMEs performance.

The study will deploy multiple resources such as preliminary analysis using existing literature and international trade databases, rigorous empirical investigation using the Centre for Monitoring Economy’s Prowess database and NSSO’s National Sample Survey 73rd round, and confirmatory analyses supported by a primary survey that was conducted jointly by the global leader in digital payments and IIFT.

The study will also analyse the role of government schemes and policies in encouraging digital transformation and exports among them. 

The findings from the study will highlight key areas of concerns for policymakers to embolden the digitalization led gains for Indian MSMEs.

The two organizations also organized an online discussion at the launch of Digital Trade Facilitation Forum in October 2021. (KNN Bureau)