Anil Jaiswal
Lucknow: The PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI), in collaboration with L&T-SuFin, organized the “Lucknow B2B Market Linkage Forum 2026 – Exploring Lucknow as a Sourcing Destination” at PHD House, bringing together industry stakeholders to discuss how digital B2B platforms can strengthen MSME supply chains.
The forum focused on the growing role of industrial e-commerce in sectors such as engineering, electrical and mechanical machinery, metals and alloys, industrial supplies, solar power, building materials, plastics, auto components, and packaging. Experts highlighted how digital sourcing platforms can improve transparency, efficiency, and connectivity across supply chains.
Kavita Nigam, Senior Member of PHDCCI and Chief Human Resources Officer at Karam Safety Pvt. Ltd., noted that Lucknow’s approximately 16,000 MSMEs provide a strong base for building a B2B marketplace connecting suppliers, buyers, and industrial clusters. She emphasized that innovation-driven growth, skill development, and improved ease of doing business will be key to expanding these opportunities.
During a detailed presentation, Soumya Pathak, Regional Lead – North at L&T-SuFin, explained that the digital marketplace launched by engineering major Larsen & Toubro connects MSME buyers and sellers through an integrated online platform. The marketplace features over 50 product categories and more than 8.5 lakh SKUs, including wires, cables, TMT steel, structural materials, and other infrastructure inputs.
Operating on a Request-for-Quotation (RFQ) model, the platform allows buyers to receive competitive quotations from multiple suppliers. Trusted sellers verified through the L&T-SuFin Trust Seal, integrated payment gateways, and pan-India logistics partnerships help ensure secure transactions. Currently, the platform hosts over 45,000 registered sellers and offers working capital support such as invoice discounting and Buy-Now-Pay-Later facilities through partner banks and NBFCs.
Welcoming the participants, Puneet Chaudhary, Senior Secretary at PHDCCI, stressed that platforms linking MSMEs with wider supply chains are crucial for expanding market access and strengthening industrial collaboration.
Kirti Raj Singh, Joint Secretary of the Safety Appliances Manufacturers Association (UP Chapter), highlighted that e-commerce platforms are opening new opportunities for industrial safety equipment manufacturers by enabling distributors and procurement teams to place large orders efficiently.
Meanwhile, U.P. Tripathi, Secretary of the Solar Energy Vendors Association, noted that Uttar Pradesh’s nearly 9 million MSMEs, employing around 20 million people, form the backbone of the state’s industrial economy, though many still lack digital visibility. Strengthening online presence, certification, and digital marketing capabilities can help industries showcase their strengths and reduce dependence on disrupted supply chains.
Keshav P. Mathur, President of Laghu Udyog Bharti (Lucknow Chapter), said MSMEs can evolve from local enterprises to global suppliers through B2B digital commerce. He also referenced recent investment outreach efforts in Singapore and Japan aimed at attracting industries to Uttar Pradesh, while digital platforms can help local suppliers build partnerships with emerging industrial clusters in districts such as Ayodhya, Pratapgarh, and Aligarh.
The forum concluded with an interactive Q&A session. Kaushik Phuloria, Deputy Resident Director at PHDCCI, delivered the vote of thanks, followed by networking interactions and B2B meetings with representatives from L&T-SuFin.
