e-Newsletter

EGoM to lay down policy for manufacturing clusters
With different ministries adopting a unique approach for the development of manufacturing clusters, the Government has decided to set up an inter ministerial group to lay down policy for cluster development and oversee its implementation. More...

SISI-Chennai charts out new strategy for cluster development
The Small Industries Service Institute (SISI) has evolved a new methodology for Cluster Intervention to enhance the competitiveness of micro and small enterprises in Tamil Nadu. For existing small enterprises, the institute would coordinate with industry chambers and government bodies to develop a cluster mode for leveraging strengths and sharing best practices among companies. The main focus of intervention would be on providing competitive environment and extending services through the IT sector for cluster firms. More...

A gems park to boost Surat diamond cluster
A state-of-the-art gems and jewellery park planned by Gujarat Hira Bourse, not only will redefine the character of the diamond cluster in the city, but also increase the share of the city-based gems and jewellery industry in the international market. More...

CII to set up Innovation Grid for SME clusters
The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Centre for Entrepreneurial Learning (CFEL) of Cambridge University today to set up a virtual network of information to nurture innovation in Indian Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).
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KASSIA to set up B-school for clusters
The Karnataka Small-scale Industries Association (KASSIA) is setting up a school of business management that will focus on small enterprises and an Udyog Bhavan to host conferences and exhibitions. More...

Nortel India focuses on SME Clusters
Nortel Networks that makes switches and routers for the telecom and IT industries announced Thursday an exclusive range of products for small and medium businesses (SMB). Nortel has identified 32 clusters of SMEs to begin with and the focus would be initially the metros after which they will go to the cities. More...

Indian IT cluster to invest in Mexico
Mexico has sought investments from Indian software firms in its proposed knowledge cities and IT clusters, while pitching for joint ventures and business alliances between companies of the two countries. Indian IT firms, especially Small and Medium Enterprises, could take advantage of the focus given in Mexico to promote computer software industry as Mexico was implementing some key projects such as IT clusters and knowledge cities in which Indian assistance would be required. More...

D&B & SMERA launch book on emerging Indian SMEs
Dun & Bradstreet (D&B) in association with the SME Rating Agency of India Ltd. (SMERA) has announced the launch of D&B’s “Emerging SMEs of India” series of publications. Dun & Bradstreet and SMERA released the first publication in this series on the “Emerging Auto Component SMEs of India”, which will serve as a global gateway to India’s auto component SME segment. SMERA has also released another seminal publication produced by SMERA titled, “Engineering and Fabrication Cluster at Jamshedpur – Towards a Risk Assessment Framework.”
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Indian SME clusters need access to finances
Indian small and medium enterprises (SME) have not kept pace with the country's economic growth because of their inability to access finances, say industry experts. The reasons for the poor growth of SMEs and strategies to put them on a high-growth curve were discussed Tuesday here during the launch of the first publication in the series of 'Emerging Auto Component SMEs of India. More...

Assocham Brand India Body to make Indian clusters globally competitive
The extraordinary general meeting (EGM) of the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (Assocham) on Friday amended its Memorandum of Articles of Association, facilitating the formation of four independent institutions — Brand India, Alternate Dispute Resolution Council (ADRC), Counterfeit Cell and Social Development Cell/Foundation. More...

Promotional package for SSI clusters soon
The much awaited promotional package for Small Scale Industry that would provide fiscal and legislative support to the sector is likely to be cleared by the government in the coming weeks. As part of providing legislative support the micro, small and medium enterprises development (SMED) Act has already been passed by the Parliament and has got the approval of the President. The act has also been notified and would be operational from October. More...

Microsoft India to train exporters in Tirupur Cluster
In October and software major Microsoft India will train a group of Tirupur exporters in reaching out to customers through e-mail and well-crafted export documentation. The aim is to make Tamil Nadu's textile and apparel clusters IT-friendly and give it a global edge over the next couple of years. More...

SEZs (induced clusters) only way forward for job growth, says CII
Special Economic Zones (SEZs) as conceived by the government will be a "powerful instrument'' to achieve rapid growth in manufacturing, employment and exports, according to the President of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). More...

INTERNATIONAL
APEC's micro enterprise cluster’s group begins series of talks
A meeting under the theme at 'Building Micro Enterprise Capacity for Market Integration', the APEC Micro Enterprise Sub-Group considered ways to expand APEC action to create new market opportunities and increase access to resources for micro enterprises. More...

Many South African SMEs don’t consider ICT critical – SME Survey 2006
Small to medium businesses are increasingly satisfied with the availability of information and communications technology but still wrestle with the challenge of securing the skills and expertise necessary for sustained performance. This is among the key findings of SME Survey 2006, in which 6000 owners of South African small to medium businesses were polled on the factors which affect their enabling environment. The Survey has, since 2003, provided key insights into this valuable business sector. More...

Vietnam Northern border provinces focus on industrial cluster development
Northern border provinces are striving to attain an industrial and handicraft production growth of 20-21 percent per year by 2010 with the aim of helping them to get out of poverty and underdevelopment. More...

Industrial-strength enterprise software for SME Clusters
One of the largest ever EU initiatives promoting open-source software for SMEs, the Digital Business Ecosystem (DBE) could revolutionise how small and medium-sized companies buy and develop software. DBE helps businesses to develop applications, and software developers to sell to a global market. More...

Quadrem Africa Connects SMEs to Global Marketplace
Quadrem Africa will be the world's largest Black-owned digital marketplace, the largest provider of trade leads in the continent of Africa and the largest online marketplace in Africa. Technology is being used as an enabler to address issues that confront South Africa and other Third World countries daily. They now have the capability, reach and scope to bring thousands of small and medium-size businesses into the domain of world class sourcing and procurement. More...

Chinese Govt. aims to boost sales, staff of small, medium business clusters
The Chinese government aims to increase the number of small- and medium-sized businesses in the country to more than 1.35 million by 2009, so that their annual sales will reach more than NT$13.8 trillion and the number of their workers will exceed 7.99 million, according to an industrial development package recently approved by the Cabinet. Over the next three years, the government plans to set up four business incubation and support centres, establish a business start-up information database, provide assistance to 2,000 new globally competitive firms, stimulate new investment worth NT$15 billion, create 4,200 new jobs and obtain 390 new patents. More...

Clusters2006: International Conference on Competitiveness
Clusters2006, This year's international event on competitiveness, cluster initiatives and innovation system development takes place in Lyon, October 9 to 13, 2006. The ninth annual conference of The Competitiveness Institute on cluster development and innovation system will focus on cluster governance and business involvement in cluster development. More...

Cluster based innovation is key for any economy’s competitiveness
Canada's disappointing fall in the World Economic Forum's competitiveness rankings — to 16th spot from 13th — shows we need to think much more seriously about how countries successfully participate in the new global economy. Competitiveness, as Michael Porter of Harvard University says, is a measure of how well a country uses the skills of its people, its investments in technology and infrastructure, its natural resources and its knowledge, to efficiently produce goods and services others want to buy in open markets. It can be called innovation and it is the source of productivity, which in turn is what generates wealth for a country. Countries that do the best have a good combination of public policies that enhance innovation and businesses that are driven by innovation. More...

Intra-Africa cluster trading is the way ahead to eradicate poverty
There is no doubt that African economies are strengthening and in order to fuel the growth, the continent needs more investments. The investment needs to be mobilised from within Africa by increasing intra-African trade. What Africa needs today is for multinationals to introduce creative instruments and look beyond the common grounds including minerals and petroleum. More...

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