India's 69 million MSMEs contribute 30% to GDP, 46% of exports, and employ over 110 million people, yet they sit on the sharp edge of the climate challenge (NITI Aayog, January 2026). They are both significant contributors to industrial emissions and among the most exposed to climate shocks. Yet, they remain the most underserved segment of India's financial system, receiving only a fraction of the green finance the transition demands. Closing this gap, which requires transforming how the financial system serves them, is central to India's net zero ambition and its vision of inclusive, resilient growth.

The Green Indian Financial System (GIFS) Initiative was created to address this challenge. Established in 2021, the GIFS Initiative is an Indo-European platform designed to bolster the greening of India's financial system and expedite the nation's transition to a low-carbon economy. The initiative brings together policymakers, financial institutions, industry leaders, researchers, and practitioners to advance sustainable finance through knowledge exchange, capacity building, and technical dialogue. India's first professional network for women greening the financial system is hosted by the Initiative, called Greening of Finance by Women (GroW), with the objective of improving the standing of women professionals in climate and sustainable finance. The Initiative is implemented by a Project Implementation Unit (PIU) comprising Climate Policy Initiative (CPI), auctusESG, and the Foundation for MSME Clusters (FMC).

The Summit presents a multi-dimensional agenda that reflects the three core priorities of the GIFS initiative:

• Recognizing and integrating climate risks into financing decisions
• Adopting a balanced approach to risk assessment while expanding financing opportunities for MSME inclusion
• Embedding gender equity in the design and implementation of green finance approaches

Adopting a solution-oriented approach, the Summit brings together strategic conversations and tactical workshops, offering a balanced structure to address the green finance needs of MSMEs.

Summit Structure

Over two days, the Summit will offer sessions that spotlight critical aspects of green finance for MSMEs. These aspects involve understanding climate risk, unpacking financing opportunities, and integrating gender inclusiveness.

Day 1 of the Summit will focus upon assessing the financing opportunity and climate risk considerations that are critical for the greening of MSME Finance; understanding and assessing physical risk related to MSMEs, establishing the context and application of adaptation finance, and building a cohesive understanding of emerging green themes impacting MSMEs.

Day 2 of the Summit will spotlight the necessity of balancing gender equity and inclusiveness in the greening of finance by focusing on conversations around women's leadership, women-led businesses, and gender inclusive finance at the last mile.

The summit will feature high-level dialogue alongside ground-up perspectives across both days. The sessions are designed to be strategic dialogues, hands-on workshops, capacity building sessions, enterprise showcases, and structured stakeholder conversations.

Summit Objectives

• Enable the development and implementation of responsible financial practices among sector players (regulators, supervisors, banks, other financial institutions) and strengthen their resilience to climate and energy transition
• Provide a platform for the representation of MSMEs and representatives from the real economy
• Foster a gender equitable dialogue within the green and climate finance ecosystem by enabling meaningful collaboration between stakeholders

Summit Focus

• Building awareness and capacity among stakeholders for the practical integration of climate-related risks and building a shared understanding and actionable thesis for greening MSME finance
• Facilitating knowledge exchange between stakeholders and promoting learning from European expertise and cross-country perspectives
• Enabling strategic partnerships and collaborations between stakeholders, including policy, regulation, industry, finance, and academia
• Providing a platform for enterprises, investors, and financial institutions to engage in meaningful and constructive dialogue and develop actionable pathways for the greening of MSME finance

Summit Speakers

The Summit aims to have speakers representing the entire ecosystem, including dignitaries from policy and regulation, development finance, philanthropy, industry, and financial institutions.

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Event Photography Notice

Photography and/or video recording may take place at this event. Photographs and recordings may be used by GIFS Secretariat for event documentation, reporting, knowledge-sharing, website updates, newsletters, social media posts, donor/partner communications, and other event-related publications. If you do not wish to be photographed, please inform the registration desk or the event team. The secretariat will take reasonable steps to avoid focused photography of attendees who have opted out. For any privacy-related request, including removal of your identifiable photograph from CPI-controlled digital channels, please contact aditi.joshi@cpiglobal.org