Clusterkraft Newsletter

New industrial policy in UP - To create a more conducive business environment

To boost private investment and create a more conducive business environment, the Uttar Pradesh government is preparing a new industrial policy for the next five years. A high-level steering committee in this regard has already been formed under the UP Industrial and Infrastructure Development (IID) commissioner with representation from the industry. The economic meltdown has hit the MSME sector most because of its low resource base and bargaining power. The sector accounts for almost 60 per cent of the total industrial output in the state. The financial crisis has adversely impacted units, especially More…

Government identifies micro industries in North Eastern region for capacity building

The Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Government of India, has identified the role of industrial clusters of micro, small and medium enterprises to bring about rapid sustainable growth and development in the North Eastern region. Accordingly, the Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship (IIE) has set up a Regional Resource Centre at Guwahati for capacity building, providing support and devising policy interventions in sustainable cluster development. About 17 cluster development proposals have been identified for each of the North Eastern states. In Meghalaya, the Department of Industries and Commerce More…

To give a boost to the MSME (micro, small and medium enterprises) sector in Orissa, the state government is planning to set up two ancillary parks at Jharsuguda and Anugul. While the units in the ancillary park at Jharsuguda, to be built over 300 acres, would cater to several large industries in the area, the proposed ancillary park at Anugul, spread over 227 acres, is exclusively meant for aluminium industries. The Orissa government is in talks with the National Aluminium Company (Nalco) to forge a joint venture for developing the aluminium ancillary park at Anugul. Land acquisition for this park is already More…

CII pledges employment through MSME Clusterisation

Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) State council released its vision document 'Orissa@2022' here at its annual day meet and reiterated its role of a catalyst for poverty eradication, employment generation and promotion of entrepreneurship to ensure quality life. Calling for a continued effort towards clusterisation of MSMEs and adoption of such areas by a large number of companies, it also advised its member companies to actively participate in peripheral development. The vision document has also taken up a State agenda through a 'district development plan' module to provide guidelines for development.More…

Jharkhand to equip weavers with latest techniques

The Jharkhand government plans to equip the weavers of Jharkhand with latest techniques in order to improve the quality of handicraft products, which are marketed through its agency 'Jharcraft'. The government feels that the weavers involved in the trade need to be updated about the latest technology being used in manufacturing of handicraft, handloom and silk products and also about the latest fashion trends so that they could redesign their products as per the market needs. Keeping this in mind, the state directorate of handloom in collaboration with the National Handloom Development Corporation More…

Workshop on cluster development held at Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship

The Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship (IIE), Guwahati, on March 6, 2009 organised a workshop at the conference hall of the Sikkim Manipal University study centre at Dimapur, to identify probable clusters in handicrafts and medicinal and aromatic plants and also to discuss regarding passion fruit clusters in Zunheboto and Wokha districts, which has already been identified in Nagaland. The workshop was aimed at bringing together entrepreneurs, government officials and other stakeholders from across the State, concerned with the implementation of cluster methodology, to share experiences, synergise More…

With the aim of promoting new technology in the sponge iron plants to reduce carbon emission and ensure optimum use of the resources in the production process, the Orissa government plans to promote a sponge iron cluster at Bonai in Sundergarh district. About 11 sponge iron units located in about 5 km radius of Bonai are proposed to be covered under the Cluster Development Programme (CDP). Emanated as an initiative of the Green Technology Cell (GTC) of Industrial Promotion and Investment Corporation (Ipicol), the programme aims to reduce the consumption of raw materials like coal and iron More…

North European countries are the most advanced in terms of information and communication technology (ICT) development, said the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) on Monday. According to the UN agency, Sweden tops a list of 154 countries worldwide, which are ranked in the agency's latest ICT Development Index (IDI).Sweden was followed by the Republic of Korea, Denmark, the Netherlands, Iceland and Norway. The ICT Development Index compared developments in these countries over a five-year period from 2002 to 2007, using indicators such as households with a computer, the number of Internet More…

While Nebraska's economy (US) may be better than most, local experts advise small businesses to take action now to avoid recession pitfalls later. There are over 41,000 small businesses in Nebraska. Some say they're the backbone of Nebraska's economy, but local experts are warning small businesses owners to plan now for the worst, before it's too late. The latest turn in the economy has actually helped Look What's Cookin', a small business in downtown Kearney. "More people are eating in and so business is great," said co-owner Jody Suchan. Small business experts say now is not the time to become More…

European Union's Private Sector Development Programme Assists Over 500 Small Businesses

Over 500 micro small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), across the island, have benefited from a suite of technical services provided under the Private Sector Development Programme (PSDP) over the past five years. These enterprises span a number of sectors, including agro-business, the creative industries, tourism, and the services sectors. A Euro 26.17 million, five-year joint initiative, established in 2004 between the Government of Jamaica and the European Union (EU), the PSDP operates out of the offices of the government's investment promotion arm, Jamaica Trade and Invest (JTI), Trafalgar More…

Despite the barrage of talk about recession, massive bailouts, and staggering unemployment numbers, local Raleigh businesses seem to have quite a rosy outlook. Not booming, not collapsing, but cozy. Pam Wood of Raleigh's Village Auto Werks isn't letting the economic pit intimidate her. Her business, and other similarly-minded businesses have such a close connection to the community that supports them that they haven't seen much of a change in the last year. While big business may call on legions of analysts and accountants It was created to address specific challenges facing MSMEs More…

During these difficult times, many small businesses that have identified niches in which they can operate and grow profitably will still find it difficult to raise capital for growth and expansion. The main reason will be that even personal savings are being worn thin by rising living expenses especially in Kenya. The climate of anxiety will also make it difficult for one to raise capital from friends and relatives who are living under the shadow of being laid off or having to do with lower salaries, meaning they will hold on to their savings rather that risk them in uncertain new ventures. More…

Small business help lacking in Mexico

It's the kind of story that gives you hope for our troubled neighbor to the south. Mexican immigrants driven back home by America's economic recession seem to be taking a part of America with them: entrepreneurial spirit. As the Chronicle's James Pinkerton reported in his recent series, some of the immigrants are using their U.S. earnings to start small businesses in their own country, from tequila distilleries to dairy cooperatives. While there's nothing new about migrants using remittances as investment capital, the opportunity presented by this recent surge of private enterprise is one of the few pieces of inspiring More…

Today, as the world slides into the worst economic period in 75 years, India is grappling with downstream effects on an otherwise sound economy. Fiscal stimulus in successive packages has helped moderate some of the deleterious impact, but further options are limited. Government alone cannot bear the entire burden of ensuring economic recovery, and the private sector has to play its part. However, leveraging private sector partnership for recovery would involve, one, unshackling the creative energies of the private sector; and two, elevating efficiencies across the economy. These objectives will require focused More…

Poverty is usually, if not always, understood as low level of income per household where individuals and households are deprived of or lack basic needs such as private consumption needs (shelter, food and others) and community needs (sanitation, access to financial services, illiteracy) to live a comfortable life. Thus, reducing poverty or eradicating it is about raising the income and quality of life of these households. Microfinance, as the tool that reaches these households, has the best mechanism towards eradicating poverty. Microfinance, like any other economic development activity, represents an upward directional More…

What Bajardiha- one of the most densely populated areas in Varanasi- witnessed during Holi festival was really a tragic incident that claimed two lives and left many injured. The wound may heal with the passage of time, but what exactly would continue to prick the minds is the pathetic and deteriorating condition of the local natives- mostly weavers, who have been struggling for survival, particularly after the slump in the weaving industry. The natives of the area with a population of about one lakh are bound to live in appalling condition and facing evils like malnutrition, hunger, poverty and unemployment. More…

Since December, the State Bank of India has restructured over 38,500 accounts of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) without effecting a status downgrade, thanks to the RBI's revision of provisioning norms. The country's largest bank's new SME loan portfolio in the current quarter will be more than three times that in previous quarter, at close to Rs 9,000 crore. Enabled by RBI, other major lenders to MSMEs like the PNB, UBI, OBC, Canara Bank etc. also are reportedly taking a lenient view of their MSME accounts. If that is not enough, lakhs of MSME units would benefit from the interim budget More…

The federal government wants banks to lend more money to small businesses, but regulators' demands for more capital, higher deposit insurance premiums and fears about what Congress may do next are working against that goal. Business lobbyists shook their heads at the latest example of the government working at cross-purposes: Legislation that would impose a hefty tax on bonuses awarded by companies that receive large investments from the government's financial rescue program. These bills target executives and derivatives traders at American International Group, which recently awarded $165 million More…

Event Profile: The Economic Times-India International Electrical Expo will showcase for the Electrical, Electronics and Lighting industry. The Economic Times-India International Electrical Expo will be a great opportunity for participating companies to showcase the industries latest trends to a dynamic mix of potential buyers and influences. More…

Event Profile: The Zak Office Technology Expo is worldwide acclaimed event which includes designing, technology, equipments and supplies related to office use. It is organized by ZAK Trade Fairs and Exhibitions Private Limited at Chennai Trade Centre, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India, the event is directed towards fulfilling increasing demand of both More…

Venue: Bombay Exhibition Centre - NSE Exhibition Complex, Mumbai , Maharashtra, India

Event Profile: The Indiamart Amtex 2009 is the industry oriented exposition which is hosted at Bombay Exhibition Center of Mumbai for fueling manufacturing sector. It is seen as the pivotal platform which unveils latest development made in the manufacturing marketplace. With the experience of more than 5 years, the exposition More…

Venue: Bombay Exhibition Centre - NSE Exhibition Complex, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

Event Profile: Automation Asia promises to showcase the latest and best in industrial automation solutions covering all the aspects of - factory, industrial building & process automation - for industrial manufacturing as well as engineering & maintenance services from individual components to complete automation solutions. More…

Event Profile: The ICONEX2009 is organized by Global Exhibits Systems at Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India. It proves to be pivotal event in exhibiting varied electronics and electrical products products like security products, consumer electronics, telecom and accessories, health and personal care electronics products etc. More…

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