SC Judge highlights role of mediation in preserving business relationships

The State government is working towards building a robust ecosystem for the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) through a cluster-based approach and targeted policy intervention, says Kondapalli Srinivas, Minister for MSME, SERP and NRI Affairs.

Mr. Srinivas was speaking at the inauguration of the Asian Centre for International Arbitration and Mediation (ACIAM) in Visakhapatnam on Sunday. It was followed by a MSME Conference-2026, which brought together policymakers, legal experts and industry stakeholders. The need for faster and more effective dispute resolution mechanism for the MSMEs came into focus at the event.

The conference focused on themes such as the role of MSMEs in economic development, the adoption of Med-Arb mechanisms and financial stability in a rapidly evolving business environment. Speakers noted that the MSMEs remained the backbone of the economy, contributing significantly to employment, innovation and exports.

“Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has adopted a new approach to strengthen the MSMEs and is working towards building a robust ecosystem across the State. The ‘one family, one entrepreneur’ concept is a step in that direction,” Mr. Srinivas said, adding that sustained efforts over the past 20 months focused on improving industrial infrastructure and Ease-of-Doing Business.

Justice N. Kotiswar Singh, Judge of the Supreme Court, who attended as guest of honour, emphasised the importance of mediation. “Mediation is not a new concept in our system; it has always been a part of our tradition,” Justice Singh said, noting its role in preserving business relationships.

He observed that prolonged litigation imposed high costs on businesses. “If you win a case in court, you may lose a business relationship; mediation allows you to preserve relationships,” he added.

Joe Tirado, international arbitrator and mediator, and founder of TiradoADR, highlighted the need to adopt appropriate dispute resolution mechanisms in international and commercial contexts.

Vishwa Manohar, Chief Executive Officer, Andhra Pradesh MSME Development Corporation, said, “Andhra Pradesh has over 20 lakh MSMEs, forming a critical pillar of the State’s economy and employment base. The shift from survival to scale requires a coordinated approach, where policy, finance, digital infrastructure and dispute resolution function as an integrated system.”

Surya Raju, Founder and Secretary-General of ACIAM and Managing Partner, Trinadha Law Firm, said, “We aim to contribute to the State’s economic growth by providing efficient dispute resolution services for micro and small enterprises.” He added that an office would be opened in Vijayawada to expand access to these services.

The conference leadership included co-founders Nikitha U and Vivek N, with the event anchored by Smeeksha Pandey and supported by Suraj Patnaik, P. Shloka and Arya Bhushan Mishra.