GIFS Summit 2026
Parivartan: Finance for Green Transition
About the Summit
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. The Initiative also hosts Greening of Finance by Women (GroW), India’s first professional network for women greening the financial system that aims to enhance the position 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.
