Clusterkraft e-Newsletter (Vol.25)

NATIONAL
• Audi to put up plant in Andhra Pradesh cluster
• Indian IT sector on threshold of a new boom through SME clusters
• IIE plans clusters for handloom, handicraft products
• Hi-tech weaving parks to enhance textile clusters
• Dutch expertise to help knitwear exporters in Tirupur Cluster
• Minister inaugurates mktg. outlet of rural craft cluster products
• Rs 2,250 cr package for SSI Clusters
INTERNATIONAL
• Pakistan Focusing on Innovation and Competitiveness through clusters
• SME Cluster investments in ICT growing in Latin America
• All Time High Number of Participants at TCI Clusters 2006
• SMEDAN, NESG, Partner on SME clusters in Nigeria
• Philippines Mapping Clusters Competitiveness Project
• Philippines Gov’t taps private firm to lift SME cluster productivity
• Lack Of Access To Advisory Services Inhibits SME clusters Performance in Malaysia
ARTICLES
• Warsaw medical cluster makes bone replacements

NATIONAL

Audi to put up plant in Andhra Pradesh cluster
German luxury car manufacturer Audi AG has decided to set up its own manufacturing facility in India and has selected Andhra Pradesh to put up the plant. Earlier, Audi had planned sharing Volkswagen group's sister concern Skoda's Aurangabad plant for rolling out its cars in India.
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Indian IT sector on threshold of a new boom through SME clusters
Nasscom, the country's premier organisation for the software industry, says that manufacturing units would soon use Information Technology. Nasscom claims it would change the face of the automobile and IT sectors.
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IIE plans clusters for handloom, handicraft products
The Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship (IIE) through cluster development approach is planning to set a common brand for handloom and handicraft products of the region. The ultimate goal of developing cluster by IIE was set aiming to help small and medium entrepreneurs (SMEs) of the region to survive the competition in the global market, as there is no alternative to cluster development.
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Hi-tech weaving parks to enhance textile clusters
The government is initiating hi-tech weaving park projects to enhance the capacity of textile sector in India and quality of its production by enabling independent weavers to consolidate under the hi-tech parks, industry representatives said in Coimbatore. They further clarified that the parks were promoted to enable the weavers to take advantage of tariff benefits, removal of trade barriers, bringing in latest technology in machineries and knowledge transfer so as to increase productivity and an international marketing platform.
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Dutch expertise to help knitwear exporters in Tirupur Cluster
With profit margins getting thin in this quota-free era, the Textiles Committee has worked out a six-month programme to help knitwear exporters get better prices, tapping the expertise of the Netherlands. This will help garment exporters here move up the value chain, forecasting designs with a range of Summer '08 collections to suit the European market instead of copying styles provided by buyers.
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Minister inaugurates mktg. outlet of rural craft cluster products
The exhibition cum marketing outlet of products developed by the craftsmen of five states under the Swarnjayanti Gram Swarojgar Yojna (SGSY) was inaugurated by the union textile minister, Shri Shankersinh Vaghela here on 18th October. The minister on the occasion said that the target of providing employment to 1.20 crore people is expected to be achieved within the five year period under the SGSY, a Scheme of ministry of rural development.
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Rs 2,250 cr package for SSI Clusters
The government has finalised a comprehensive promotional package of over Rs 2,250 crore for the small scale sector, which includes increasing the general excise exemption limit for micro and small enterprises from Rs 1 crore to Rs 1.25 crore.
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INTERNATIONAL

Pakistan Focusing on Innovation and Competitiveness through clusters
Minister of State for Finance and Chairman of the Competitiveness Support Fund (CSF), Mr. Omar Ayub Khan, presented Pakistan's vision for economic development and its role as a catalyst in the region in the TCI annual conference 2006.
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SME Cluster investments in ICT growing in Latin America
Latin American SME clusters are expected to invest nearly US$9.7bn in upgrading their mobile equipment and infrastructure this year, expert consultants projected in a statement. According to the consultancy firm, some US$9.2bn will be targeted toward mobile telephony service infrastructure and US$530mn on mobile equipment.
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All Time High Number of Participants at TCI Clusters 2006
Many countries are identifying cluster development and innovation systems policy as a national priority, pouring resources into the growth and development of homegrown businesses as well as creating incentives for foreign companies to locate there. Countries that have not traditionally relied on domestic research and development are now turning their economy to cluster development and innovation systems policy as a main driver for high-tech innovation.
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SMEDAN, NESG, Partner on SME clusters in Nigeria
The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) has entered into partnership with the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) to design a roadmap for the development of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME The agency has also entered into partnership with the Energy Commission of Nigeria ECN to look into ways of promoting solar energy to aid the development of the sub-sector.
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Philippines Mapping Clusters Competitiveness Project
This project assesses the capacity of cities to provide an environment that nurtures the dynamism of its local enterprises and industries. It looks into the general ability of the city to attract investments, entrepreneurs, and residents and uplift the living standards of its residents. It provides a benchmarking process that aids individual cities in measuring competitiveness and motivates local governments to change mentality from service provider to economic managers. More...

Philippines Gov’t taps private firm to lift SME cluster productivity
THE government is now working with industry associations and big players in the information technology sector to boost its efforts to achieve one of its goals to increase the competitiveness of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the country through the use of information and communication technology (ICT).
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Lack Of Access To Advisory Services Inhibits SME clusters Performance in Malaysia
Lack of access to advisory services to enhance business operations has been identified as one of the important factors that has been inhibiting the performance of the small and medium enterprises (SMEs). According to Entrepreneur and Cooperative Development Minister, Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin, another crucial area often neglected by the SMEs was the advice on information and communications technology (ICT), finance and branding.
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ARTICLES

Warsaw medical cluster makes bone replacements
A unique cluster is making a lot of business in Poland. It makes bone replacements and has a replacement for every bone.
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