Clusterkraft e-Newsletter (Vol.28)

NATIONAL

INTERNATIONAL

ARTICLES

EVENTS

NATIONAL

India, Japan to develop clusters in industrial corridor

India and Japan have agreed to develop an industrial corridor along the multi-modal Delhi-Mumbai freight corridor. The industrial corridor will have several supporting infrastructure projects such as power facilities, railway connectivity to ports en-route and will also cover development of ports on the west coast of India. Several industrial estates and clusters with high quality infrastructure are proposed to be developed to attract more investment, including from Japan. More...

Haryana to develop three industrial clusters
The Haryana government today said it will develop three industrial clusters - at Panipat, Gurgaon and Faridabad - for Textile, Auto parts and Light Engineering Equipments sectors. A Bio-Technology Park would also be set up at Manesar, Industries and Commerce Minister Lachman Dass Arora said. He said the state government had attracted Foreign Direct Investment of Rs 1,380 crore after the implementation of new industrial policy in June 2005. The policy had facilitated industries by giving statutory rights to investors for time-bound clearance of their projects and single window system. More...

Plans in Kerala to boost traditional clusters
The State Government plans to convert traditional industrial sector into a dynamic one. The draft industrial policy released by the Government envisages incorporation of professional marketing strategies to exploit the retail revolution. The sector will be weaned away from the subsidy culture. Special packages will be offered to private entrepreneurs and institutions to establish handloom production units. The handloom clusters will be strengthened with financial, technical and managerial assistance. The Government intends to encourage domestic usage of handloom and khadi products through mass campaigns and focus on the cultural aspects of traditional dressing.
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West Bengal Govt ponders clusters for development
Construction of a plastic park - that will help small units and for which around 1,000 acres of land is already available - is being considered at Sankrail in East Midnapore. Manab Mukherjee, state minister for micro and small enterprises and textile (erstwhile department of cottage and small-scale industries), said that the state government has mooted the idea to have the park and consent of the department concerned at the Centre is awaited. The park will help small units. Around 1,000 acres of land is available, but prior to project approval, it can’t be said how much land will be needed exactly, said Mukherjee. More...

MSME panel suggests Enterprise Commission for Kerala clusters
The Working Group on Modern Small and Medium Industries for Kerala has suggested, among other things, setting up of an Enterprise Commission, establishment of an Enterprise Development Fund and the reorganisation of the Directorate of Industries and Commerce. More...

No cap on number of SEZs for cluster development says minister
The central government clarified that there was no proposal to put a limit on the number of Special Economic Zones (SEZ) and it was trying to ensure that more and more industrial units should come up in a zone. Nath said the meeting dealt with the larger issue of land acquisition for SEZs. He said the SEZs were nothing but industrial clusters for promoting exports. More...

Cluster Weavers learn the nitty-gritty of “kasavu”
To equip handloom weavers with brand building and design development and to promote sustainable growth and diversification in handloom industry, the office of the Development Commissioner Handlooms and the Textiles Committee, both functioning under the Union Ministry of Textiles, has launched a training programme for weavers of Iyyanputhur village near the city on Sunday. Under the Integrated Handloom Cluster Development Programme, the training will help weavers upgrade designs in `handloom jacquard sari weaving,' popularly known as `Kerala saris.'
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INTERNATIONAL

New blueprint for cluster development of Bahrain SME clusters
BAHRAIN yesterday unveiled a new blueprint for the development of its small and medium enterprises (SMEs), which is designed to increase productivity, jobs and exports and cut through red tape. It includes the training of workers in specific trades and providing increased funding for industrial training and vocational institutes, enabling them to offer dedicated programmes. The intake capacity of the existing business incubator will be increased, new business incubators for technology firms will be set up and one solely dedicated to craftsmen will be established. Access to credit is also expected to be improved for SMEs through the creation of "innovative financial services".
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Auto clusters to combat globalization in Pakistan
The Pakistani Prime Minister took the decision to review the long-term auto policy prepared by Ministry of Industries and Production in consultation with all stakeholders. Addressing the meeting, the Prime Minister said the government attaches great importance to the auto industry, as it is a key driver of economic growth and a creator of jobs and employment in the country. The Prime Minister said the government is keen that apart from meeting the growing local demand for autos, the auto industry should get into the export of auto parts which is a volume and niche business requiring specialization. More...

UK Cluster ICT Hub will be 'digital foundry' for world
Information and communication technology companies in the West Midlands are to have their talents displayed in a "shop window" of opportunity following the launch of a new umbrella organisation that has been established to promote ICT growth in the small to medium enterprises (SME) sector. Operating under the name of the West Midlands ICT Hub, the organisation will be part funded by regional development agency Advantage West Midlands (AWM) and driven by Birmingham Technology, the management company responsible for Aston Science Park.
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USAID team visits TUSDEC, Pakistan for cluster development
A three-member USAID delegation led by Ms Amy Meyer, Director Economic Growth visited the TUSDEC (Technology Upgradation and Skill Development Company) head office and discussed the ways for collaboration between the two organisations. According to a spokesman of TUSDEC here Friday, Acting Managing Director of TUSDEC gave a presentation on initiatives aimed to upgrade technology and skills of key and strategic industrial clusters and connect Pakistan to the global value chain. More...

ARTICLES

YEAR END REVIEW– 2006 of the Ministry of TEXTILES
The Indian Textiles Industry has an overwhelming presence in the economic life of the country. Apart from providing one of the basic necessities of life, the textiles industry also plays a pivotal role through its contribution to industrial output, employment generation, and the export earnings of the country. Currently, it contributes about 14 percent to industrial production, 4 percent to the GDP, and 17 percent to the country’s export earnings. It provides direct employment to about 35 million people, which includes a substantial number of SC/ST, and women. The Textiles sector is the second largest provider of employment after agriculture. Thus, the growth and all round development of this sector has a direct bearing on the improvement of the economy of the country. More...

Project to incubate technology in Tanzanian clusters
The University of Dar es Salaam through its College of Engineering and Technology, CoET, is implementing a Technology/Business Incubation Project for supporting the Innovation System and Clusters Programme in Tanzania, ISCPT. The Project aims at promoting growth of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) in Tanzania.
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EVENTS

Gitex-India 2007
The sixth edition of Gitex-India (formerly Gitex Hyderabad), a premier annual mega information and communications technology (IT&C (products exhibition event, will be organised at the Hitex Exhibition grounds in Hyderabad between January 9 and 11, 2007. More...

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