e-Newsletter

Shendra pharma SEZ relieves SME's in Aurangabad
Investment of Rs 300 crores by centre for food processing in Haryana
SME Clusters to create 20 lakh jobs
Adoption of cluster approach for horticulture growth in NE

Electrical, Electronics and Biotech Clusters in Malaysia to be boosted
`Cluster Approach' for Chinese firms in the Singapore stock exchange
Industrial Park in Suzhou , China
France 's $1.8 Billion investment in clusters paying off
Cluster concept to speed up Russian economy
Electronics, Biomedical& transport engineering clusters drive Singapore 's GDP
Pakistan to focus on increased competitiveness of textile clusters
Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry submits proposal for cluster development
Japan to visit China on IPR mission

Call for papers: TCI Annual Conference
International conference on Information, Communication &Technologies in Syria
Workshop for SME's in Poland
Dublin Information, Communication, & Technology Expo

Small-scale sector: Merits special encouragement by Dhurjati Mukherjee
The option of business linkages By SUBHASISH ROY
Modern Artisans: Blacksmith of Midlands

UNCTAD is looking for a trainer with expertise in one stop shops for a 3 month job assignment in Africa .
INFORMEST is seeking experts for short and long term missions in various countries.

Announcement of Shendra pharma SEZ proposal has stopped firms from moving away due to strangling local taxes such as octroi. The pharma units here have been reporting a combined turnover of Rs 200 to Rs 250 crore. More ...

An investment of Rs 300 crores will be made by the centre in the National Institute of Food Management near Kundli in Haryana. The Government has also set targets to attract an investment of about Rs 100,000 crores in food processing business in the next 5-10 years. More ...

If India is able to exploit the export opportunities in labour intensive goods and modes of production, the merchandise exports will reach $165 billion and shall generate 2.1 crore jobs by the end of the decade. Sectors like textiles and apparel, dairy products, leather products, gems and jewellery, metal products, medical appliances, watches, automobiles and auto components have high potential in job creation and in exports. More ...

According to Horticulture Commission, India 's North East must take a lead in promoting the sector by adopting cluster approach based on its inherent natural strengths. It was suggested that Nagaland can adopt a cluster approach for promoting banana; Tripura can concentrate on Pine and seed potato.

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The Malaysian government is to focus on its manufacturing sector as the key area of investment to the tune of more than $ 1 billion, as it has the potential to grow at 7% annually over the next 5 years. To support these clusters the government shall open more centres of advanced studies and try to double the country's intake of technical trainees. More ...

In order to attract more Chinese companies and market leaders in to the Singapore Exchange (Stock), it shall adopt a cluster approach. The strategy shall be to identify the potential booming clusters that can be translated into stock market revenues, like the maritime and electronics clusters. More ...

Suzhou Industrial Park, China will be doubled to about 150 square kilometers. Singapore is also taking stock of the park's progress, so as to draw on this experience as it gets involved in developing Special Economic Zones in India, Indonesia and eventually in the Middle East. Mor e ...

In 2005, $1.8 billion was pledged over three years by the French government to develop and support a new system of 67 industrial clusters - ranging from aerospace to telecom. The French government is focusing on 15 top centers of excellence to attract international partners. More ...

Russian Prime Minister to visit the Altai territory to see problems the region is experiencing and its industrial potential. Key point shall be inspection of specialized industrial zones, called "clusters." An agency is also planned to be set up for regional and municipal development in the coming years for working out such strategies. More ...

Electronics, Biomedical, & transport engineering clusters drive Singapore 's GDP

Analysts have forecasted Singapore 's economy to grow or even beat gross domestic product (GDP) powered to 9, 1% annual growth in the first quarter. The manufacturing sector, which accounts for almost a third of Singapore 's GDP, surged 16% in the March quarter. This was underpinned largely by strong growth in the electronics, biomedical and transport engineering clusters. More ...

Pakistan government to seriously concentrate on improving the low productivity and efficiency to reap benefits in the post textile quota regime. Garments industry is currently suffering from acute problems of low productivity, poor quality, weak management and marketing skills and hence facing serious threat of losing its share in the international markets. The government has thus decided to make exporters competitive in garment business so that they can enhance productivity. More ...

Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry submits proposal for cluster development

DCCI forwarded a 121-point proposal for consideration in the next budget session to develop a strong economic footing. The chamber represents trade-promotion organization of over 4,000 members, mostly having small and medium enterprises (SME's). It said the budget should give clear direction for developing and flourishing the 33 thrust sectors and 11 booster sectors declared under the Industrial and SME policies respectively. More ...

Japanese companies have reportedly incurred heavy losses by Chinese-made illegal copies of their goods. For this, a joint delegation from the Japanese private and public sectors will visit China from June 4 to discuss intellectual property rights issues. More ...

TCI is holding its annual conference on ?Governance and Companies as Cornerstones of Cluster Initiatives? to take place in Lyons, France from October 9-13, 2006. It is inviting papers from academics, businesses and institutions for the conference on specifies theme. The deadline for submission of papers in 5th May 2006. More ..

International conference on Information, Communication &Technologies in Syria

The 2nd IEEE International Conference on Information & Communication Technologies: from Theory to Applications - ICTTA'06 - will be held from April 24 - 28, 2006 in Damascus , Syria . The conference shall aim to address latest trends and challenges, emerging technologies and progress in standards on topics relevant to fast moving areas of Information and Communication Technologies. More ...

The 6th Matching Workshop shall take place in Wroclaw , Lower Silesia , Poland on 26th April 2006 . Focus shall be on developing business relations between SME's from partner's regions in the fields of Automotive, Electro-Mechanical Industry, and ICT. More ..

An ICT Expo will be held from 4th - 6th May, 2006 in RDS, Ballsbridge, Dublin . The event is designed to provide stimulating and informative environment that will enable visitors to keep up-to-date from the corporate and public sectors to small businesses. The programme includes exhibits, conferences, and workshops. More ...

The small-scale sector has acquired a prominent place in the socio-economic development of the country in the last few decades, by providing productive non-farm employment among the masses, so essential for a country like India . The size of this sector is indeed quite big with around 114 lakh units, employing 271.36 lakh persons. Even exports have been given a boost by this sector with a steady 20 per cent growth. The potential for growth of the small sector is indeed immense for which it merits special encouragement. More ...

An article about the crucial role that the SME's in the development of the country during the past 50 years. The sector constitutes about 95% of industrial units and about 40% of total industrial output. Its direct and indirect export potential stands at about 38%. With about 3.6 million SSI registered units employing close to 2 crore people, its employment potential is next only to the agriculture sector. One of the ways by which this sector can be made to grow fast is by tapping both domestic as well as international markets through business linkages between MNCs and SMEs. More ...

In the age of machines, in highly industrialized America, there still exist men who hold love for their inherited professions. Their friendship is made over the ancient craft of blacksmithing. They meet and share their experiences and pull it together to craft new things for the community. The blacksmiths also are called upon to help in other communities. More ...

UNCTAD is looking for a trainer with expertise in one stop shops for a 3 month job assignment in Africa . The following are the necessary specifications

Several years of work experience in Investment Promotion
Advanced university degree in business Administration or related field
Knowledge about the function and management of one stop shops
Training experience on investment related issues
Fluency in English and French

INFORMEST is seeking experts for short and long term missions in various countries. Experts are needed to have a minimum of ten years experience in one or more of the following:

Business support services for SMEs
SME Development
TA at government level on SME development strategies
Financial instruments and credit facilities for SMEs
EU policies regarding SME sector
SME need analysis and training design and implementation
EU structural funds programming and implementation
E-business, e-marketplaces, e-government, b2b, b2g, b2c
EU procurement and contractual procedures

Interested consultants must send in their resume and a presentation letter to: experts@informest.it.

Emedtex.net ( www.emedtex.net ) is an electronic marketplace aimed at assisting the business cooperation among the Euro-Mediterranean textile and clothing enterprises.

The state Tamil Nadu is bounded by Kerala in the west and Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh in the north. It is well known for its marvelous handicraft items that includes handloom silk, tie and dye saris, metal icons, leather work, palm leaf, woodwork and cane articles. Tamil Nadu is an important exporter of tanned skin, hides, leather goods, cotton goods and yarn, tea, coffee, spices, engineering goods, tobacco, handicrafts and black granite.

The above diagram indicates the Sectoral distribution of Artisanal Clusters in Tamil Nadu

Textile Clusters comprise of 37% of the total artisanal clusters in Tamil Nadu. The state has created a niche for itself in manufacturing of cotton textiles and has a leading position not only in India but the world over. Kanchipuram silk saris from the state are popular for their rich gold borders apart from cotton products such as Lungis, shirts and other things for daily wear.

USA , UK , France , and Germany are among the principal buyers of cotton textile from Tamil Nadu. Tirupur has emerged strongly as a major industrial township. Approximately 22% of India 's exports of ready-made garments originate from Tamil Nadu. It contributes around more than 22% of the country's exports of cotton yarn and fabrics.

Accessory clusters comprise of 11% of the total artisanal clusters in the state.

Cane and Bamboo is the next prominent artisanal cluster in the state that comprises of 13% of the total. Kora grass mat weaving is an important craft that is practiced throughout. Also, cane articles are products consist of utility items such as chairs, tables, handbags, floor- coverings, etc and are a forte of Madras city.

Earthenware and Woodwork Clusters comprise of 8% each of the total artisanal clusters in Tamil Nadu. The pottery here is known as Karigari pottery in which clay is the main raw material. The products include water jugs, stands, and ash-trays.

Tamil Nadu is also known for its highly skilled woodworks especially from Madurai . One can see them especially in the ancient temples and other products such as furniture, figurines, and other objects.

Metalware and Stoneware clusters comprise of 7% each in the total artisanal clusters in the state. Utility objects such as lamps, bells, ash-trays, bowls and utensils are mainly made of copper, brass, bronze, and bell metal. Madurai , Nachiarkoil, Nagercoil and Kanchipuram are the main places where metal objects are made.

Shells and toys & dolls clusters , each comprise 3% each of the total artisanal clusters in Tamil Nadu. The main craft centres are Madras , Kanyakumari and Nagercoil where attractive items such as jewellery, lamp-shades, etc are made.

Painting clusters constitute 2%, of the total artisanal clusters in the state. Tamil Nadu is well known for its traditional Thanjavur paintings, done on materials such as wood, glass, mica, ivory, and murals.