Former Indian President to inaugurate two Commonwealth programmes

The former President of India, His Excellency Dr A P K Abdul Kalam, will inaugurate two Commonwealth programmes, which begin on 21 June.

Both the Ninth Commonwealth-India Small Business Competitiveness Development Programme and the Natural Fibres Skills Development Programme will held in Bangalore in southern India.

The small business programme looks at what companies need to do to become increasingly competitive both at home and abroad. Through a series of seminars, where businesses are exposed to success stories by hearing first-hand experiences from renowned entrepreneurs, this aim is realised.

The programme is organised by the Commonwealth Secretariat, the Export-Import Bank of India (EXIM Bank), set up in 1981 by the Indian Government to finance, facilitate and promote foreign trade in India, and Industree Crafts Foundation, a non-profit organisation which helps young artisans set up their own businesses.

Speakers from all over the world are brought together to share their experiences and past successes, which have helped their businesses develop. Those present at these seminars are presented with a toolkit developed by EXIM Bank and the Secretariat in order to help businesses grow.

Since these programmes were set up they have been attended by over 450 participants from 46 countries, over 50 per cent of whom were women.

The theme for the ninth programme is ‘The Role of Financing and Appropriate Technologies.’ Participants will assess the likely fallout of the global downturn on small businesses, outlining various perspectives, mitigating strategies and opportunities. They will also examine models and initiatives in the development of small businesses where natural and sustainable resources have been used in rural, national and international markets.

Field visits will also take place to give participants an opportunity to learn from other successful businesses. Biocon Limited, India’s first biotechnology company, Infosys Technologies Limited Campus, India’s largest information technology company and V3 Engineers – established by 3 young engineers on a shoestring budget in 1990, will all be visited during the week-long programme.

The Commonwealth’s Natural Fibres programme will focus on practical actions that can improve the viability of businesses which use natural fibres. Participants of this programme are all involved in the natural fibre industry.

They will examine the economic significance, development and utilisation of natural fibres especially among small rural farmers, women entrepreneurs, micro, small and medium enterprises in the Commonwealth. Participants will, among other things, analyse the global demand for natural fibre products, characteristics of consumers and market requirements in terms of quality, labour and environmental standards.

Other areas they will focus on include the contribution of production and trade in natural fibres to reduce poverty in India as well as examining ways to create a competitive environment for natural fibre industries.

Like the small business programme, field visits will be made to companies such as Mother Earth – a self styled green store which sells merchandise from food to household products.

The United Nations General Assembly declared 2009 declared the International Year of Natural Fibres to raise awareness of natural fibres, to promote efficiency and sustainability of the natural fibres, and to foster an effective international partnership among the various natural fibres industries.

Secretariat Links:

• Country Profile: India
• Economic Development