Lucknow: Godrej Capital, the financial services arm of the Godrej Industries Group announced a significant expansion of its MSME lending presence in Uttar Pradesh through its subsidiary, Godrej Finance Limited (GFL). The move aims to strengthen access to credit for micro, small and medium enterprises across the state.
The company has already achieved loan bookings of over ₹170 crore and an Assets Under Management (AUM) of ₹125 crore in key cities including Lucknow, Agra, Kanpur and Varanasi. This growth has been supported by a robust network of more than 400 channel partners. Currently, GFL is serving customers within a 75-km radius of its existing locations.
Building on this momentum, the company plans to expand into nine additional cities over the next year—Meerut, Bareilly, Prayagraj, Gorakhpur, Saharanpur, Gonda, Etawah, Jhansi and Moradabad—taking its presence to 13 locations across the state. Backed by a strong portfolio, prudent underwriting standards and disciplined borrower behaviour, Godrej Finance aims to achieve an AUM of ₹500 crore in Uttar Pradesh by FY27.
Uttar Pradesh remains a critical market for MSMEs in India, accounting for over 9 per cent of the country’s registered enterprises and hosting one of the largest concentrations of such businesses. The state’s growth is being driven by a dynamic entrepreneurial ecosystem, supported by government initiatives, established industrial clusters and improved infrastructure connectivity. A stable policy environment and continuous improvements in ease of doing business have further positioned Uttar Pradesh as one of North India’s fastest-growing commercial markets.
To support enterprises at various stages of growth, GFL offers a comprehensive portfolio of secured and unsecured business loans. Its lending model emphasises speed and convenience, with quick eligibility checks and AI-driven credit processes simplifying the borrowing journey. The company also accepts multiple forms of collateral and requires minimal documentation, making credit more accessible to MSMEs.
The loan process is designed to be seamless, offering flexibility in drawdowns and repayments based on business needs. GFL is also investing in its channel ecosystem through “ClubOne,” a dedicated membership programme that recognises and rewards channel partners who play a key role in driving business growth.
Commenting on the expansion, Manish Shah, MD & CEO, Godrej Capital, said, “Uttar Pradesh’s expanding economy and strong MSME base place the state at the heart of India’s next phase of growth, and we see significant long-term opportunities here. As we expand our geographical footprint to 13 key locations over the coming year, we are also investing in building strong local teams and a wide network of channel partners. This deeper presence will enable us to deliver faster and smoother lending journeys and provide businesses with more reliable access to growth capital.”
As part of its flagship inclusion initiative, Aarohi, Godrej Capital offers customised loan solutions and concessional interest rates for women entrepreneurs. The initiative is designed to empower women across multiple dimensions—as borrowers, employees, channel partners and community leaders—reflecting the company’s commitment to promoting gender equality in the financial ecosystem.
Aarohi is built on four key pillars: financial inclusion, equitable employment, capacity building and strategic partnerships. Since its launch, the initiative has facilitated loan disbursements of over ₹1,300 crore to women entrepreneurs and aims to positively impact more than 100,000 women over the next five years by supporting their growth and enabling broader economic participation.
