Strengthening Co-operation to Promote SMEs Crucial
19 January 2006
A senior government official from India has briefed representatives from Commonwealth High Commissions in London, UK, on a Commonwealth Secretariat-India project to promote small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
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| "We work with our member countries to enable, augment and implement competitive policies and strategies, as well as build and strengthen institutional capacities. Sustainable development of SME competitiveness is the main thrust of this work. We always try to develop new and creative approaches to poverty alleviation through sustained SME development activities." - George Saibel, Commonwealth Secretariat |
Anupam Dasgupta, Secretary to the Government of India's Ministry of Small Scale Industries and the Ministry of Agro and Rural Industries, told diplomats that the strengthening of co-operation among Commonwealth countries could help build the capacity of SMEs, and in turn promote pro-poor growth and development while alleviating poverty. He was speaking at the Commonwealth Secretariat in London on 17 January 2006.
Mr Dasgupta also stressed the importance of co-ordinating national and regional SME policies, and the establishment of regional networks. Developing good manufacturing practices and promoting innovations by protecting intellectual property rights are equally vital, he said.
"We need to promote venture capital funds and technology incubators for innovative enterprises. We also have to build capacities in education and technology through co-operation in human resource development. Joint studies on issues confronting SMEs and the sharing of this information within the Commonwealth would be useful," stated Mr Dasgupta.
To give SMEs a boost, he said the Government of India had introduced the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Development Bill in May 2005 which seeks to enhance competitiveness, credit support, technical upgrades, marketing and export promotion, and business cluster development.
Mr Dasgupta added that the Bill also proposes the establishment of an advisory body to promote and develop MSMEs, and the strengthening of legislation to address the chronic problem of delayed payments to MSMEs by large buyers. Also included are plans for the simplification and harmonisation of labour laws for MSMEs and a preferential policy to be introduced by the Government for the procurement of products from MSMEs.
George Saibel, Director of the Secretariat's Special Advisory Services Division, said the Secretariat has been involved in SME development for more than three decades. This includes the Commonwealth-India Small Business Competitiveness Development Programme undertaken in partnership with the Government of India. The aim of this SME institutional capacity development programme, he explained, was to support pro-poor economic growth and sustainable SME development.
Briefing participants at the seminar, Mr Saibel stated: "We work with our member countries to enable, augment and implement competitive policies and strategies, as well as build and strengthen institutional capacities. Sustainable development of SME competitiveness is the main thrust of this work. We always try to develop new and creative approaches to poverty alleviation through sustained SME development activities."
Since the launch of the Commonwealth-India Small Business Competitiveness Development Programme in November 2004, more than 150 participants from 43 Commonwealth countries have attended three seminars in New Delhi and Chennai to discuss and exchange views and experience on the sustainable development of SMEs in the face of globalisation and competition. This includes ways to improve the business environment, increase export potential and the application of technology to enhance business growth and competitiveness. The participants included policy-makers, entrepreneurs and government officials.
CNIS - Commonwealth News and Information Service Issue 268, 18 January 2006
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