MSMEs SUMMIT

The Ministry of Micro Small & Medium Enterprises, along with PHD Chamber, and Avian Media organized a summit on Bolstering MSMEs for Make in India on 21st March 2016 at PHD Chamber, New Delhi. Mr. Amar Saraswat, Assistant Professor, from Department of Computer Science & Engineering, Dronacharya College of Engineering, Gurgaon attended the summit.

With an aim to facilitate investments, foster innovation, enhance skill development, build world class infrastructure in the country and make India a global manufacturing hub for the entire world economy.

The welcome remarks were given by Mr. Saurabh Sanyal, Secretary General, PHD Chamber, in which he discussed that to pursue these highly ambitious targets, the government has identified various sectors which are to be focused, including automobiles and auto components, food processing, leather and textiles among others. Since, almost all these identified focused sectors are mostly operating under the MSMEs segment. Mr. Sanyal said that this sector seems to further play a critical role for making the Make in India initiative a success.

Then, a key note address on corporate social responsibility and its challenges was given Mr. Nitin Mantri, CEO, Avian Media, in which he discussed about various challenges, including effective management of resources, stringent conditions of raising finance, lack of skilled manpower, lack of technology up gradation, difficulty in procuring raw material from domestic as well as foreign markets, multiple taxes, lack of quality infrastructure, operational challenges, and less focus on research and innovation among others.

A report on "Bolstering MSMEs for Make in India : With special focus on CSR” was launched by the various dignitaries. Explaining about the report, and its relevance, Ms. Samishtha Gosh, Head, CSR Advocacy Practice, Avian Media, said that Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) took centre stage with the new companies that mandate CSR spending some percentage of profit. Ms. Gosh said that to delve into the core areas where CSR funding can be channelized in the MSMEs space, we conducted a research with select micro, small and medium scale enterprises. The findings highlighted three core areas such as technology and quality up-gradation, sustainable raw material and upgrading of staff skills and expanding their capabilities.

Initiatives and emerging business opportunities for MSME’s in the wake of Make in India, were discussed by Mr. R. K. Panigrahi, Director, MSME - DI, Ministry of MSMEs, Gol and Mr. VishwaNath, Chairman, Committee on MSMEs, PHD Chamber. Mr. Panigrahi discussed that by contributing CSR resources to these core areas of small scale enterprises, we will not only improve the overall business environment, but also ensure better job opportunities, better productivity, besides high quality and sustainable products and services thereby meeting the needs of global markets.

Mr. Vivek Dhaiya, Principle Associate, Grover Law, discussed about strengthening intellectual property rights regime in India to foster innovations in MSME sector. Then, various schemes and initiatives undertaken by the government under Make in India programme and its implications for MSMEs sector was discussed by Ms. Anisha Pal, Assistant General Manager, Small industries and Development Bank of India (SIDBI).

In the end, concluding remarks and vote of thanks was given by Dr. S. P. Sharma, Chief Economist, PHD Chamber, in which he stated that this process of enhancing the association between large enterprises and SMEs is envisaged to be gradual, however, it has great potential to generate the desired results in the direction of making the Make in India initiative and particularly, the MSMEs sector, a great success in the times ahead.

Some Glimpses :