SMEs contribute a huge chunk to the economic growth of any nation -- almost 97% of China’s business behemoth is built on SMEs alone. Similarly, SMEs have also contributed a great deal to India’s economy. Further validation of their importance arrived this week in the form of a report by NRI Consulting that said Indian MSMEs could create 1 crore jobs in the next five years. Credit growth has also maintained an upward track in the last five years, according to a new CIBIL report, although NPA build-ups remain a threat on the horizon. As the World Bank warns that excessive reliance on domestic demand may stunt India’s economic growth, exporters, particularly SME ones, will play a key role in the near future. The global economy may be on the downward track, but there are plenty of opportunities available for the intrepid exporter who can identify the right markets and segments to target. The future of the Indian -- and indeed the global -- economy looks set to be increasingly driven by small- and medium-sized businesses and the entrepreneurs at their helm.