New Delhi, June 22 -- Reserve Bank of India (RBI) governor Sanjay Malhotra on Monday called on banks and financial institutions to deepen their engagement with the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) sector, saying small businesses should be treated as long-term business partners rather than merely a regulatory obligation.

Speaking at the inauguration of the week-long celebrations leading up to International MSME Day 2026 in Kochi, Malhotra outlined a three-pronged agenda for financial institutions to strengthen credit access and support the growth of the sector.

"MSMEs should not be considered as a regulatory obligation alone, but as long-term business partners whose sustained growth generates durable financial returns and broad...