The countdown for India's biggest business awards, the Emerging India Awards has begun. This year, we had entries from more than 3 lakh small and medium enterprises across categories. The winners for Emerging India 2008 will be unveiled in London in just a week from now.

"Think global, go global," that's what defines Emerging India Awards 2008. CNBC-TV18's pioneering initiative to recognise Indian small and medium enterprises, has reached another milestone. From 5000 entries in its first year in 2004, to more than 3 lakh entries this year, Emerging India has become a crucial benchmark for Indian SMEs. Last year, Emerging India saw 1.3 lakh SMEs standing up to be counted and to present them the coveted awards was none other than India's Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh. 

This year Emerging India is saluting Indian SMEs who are not just leaders in the domestic market, but are world beaters.

KV Kamath, MD & CEO of ICICI Bank, said, "Whether it's service or manufacturing, globalisation is inevitable. Pitching it as think global, go global is absolutely right this year and 10% growth rate is throwing opportunities, which we wouldn't have thought four years back."

And felicitating the winners across 17 categories, will be India's Commerce and Industries Minister Kamal Nath and his counterpart in UK, John Hutton. The guest of honour will be India's global business icon Laxmi Niwas Mittal.