Foreign delegates keen on replicating Cluster approach pioneered by CII in their countries

By 121 News Reporter

Chandigarh 16^th January:- The 7^th International Delegation visited CII-AVANTHA Centre for Competitiveness for SMEs here today. Women and Enterprise Development and Trainers' Training on Entrepreneurship and Promotion of Income Generation Activities were the focus areas of the delegation. These visits are led by National Institute for Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development (NIESBUD) – a premier organisation of Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, India.

R. Narayanan, Head, CII-AVANTHA Centre for Competitiveness for SMEs while enumerating various services of the Center talked about the Cluster approach that has been pioneered by the Confederation of Indian Industry. He said that the Cluster approach is as important as it is sending children to school. The environment is such that it induces healthy competition, growth and learning from the teacher / mentor as well as the peer group.

The participants showed keen interest on replicating the same approach in their respective countries to enhance the co-population of Women Enterprise Development and Income Generation through principles of Inclusive growth.

Ms. Sidhanta Devi Padaruth, Family Support Officer, National Women Council, Ministry of Gender Equality, Mauritius was excited about the tips she got at CII. She was keen on using the collaborative Cluster approach back home to help vulnerable women groups to be economically empowered. She further said that this would be the first time we would look at inter-departmental collaboration and look at working together with the Women Entrepreneurship Council and help women come together and set up businesses and lead them to a path of empowerment.

Akuila Sovanivalu, representative from the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Fiji was keen on looking at avenues of operationalizing the Cluster approach. He said. "On my return to Fiji I would submit a report on how Chambers of Commerce in Fiji can collaborate with CII on projects like Train the Trainer and also how Clusters should be used as a way of operationalising the bilateral agreement signed between India and Fiji last November."

Other delegates were of the view that such missions are helpful for cross border education as the socio-demographical conditions are somewhat similar in the developing countries and techniques learnt herewith are useful for development in our respective countries.

A total of 42 participants from 20 countries namely, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Fiji, Ghana, Indonesia, Mauritius, Myanmar, Namibia,  Nepal, Niger, South Africa, South Sudan, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe attended this programme.  They are engaged in the area of Women Enterprise Development, Entrepreneurship and Promotion of Income Generation Activities in their countries.  The main objective of the programme is to develop them as an effective trainer's promoter.

The CII-Avantha Centre for Competitiveness for SMEs along with its strategic partners has impacted over 3000 SMEs through the clusters approach. Impact of various programmes conducted by CII-Avantha Centre for Competitiveness for SMEs was also detailed during the session. Some of benefits are - Joint ventures and MoUs worth Rs. 31400 lakh, exports of Rs. 5000 lakh have been facilitated through Indo-German Manager training programme. As much as 100 and 300 % increase in turnover recorded by participant companies Rs. 7000 Lakh annual savings reported from about 90 individual companies through Energy Management Services in last 5 years. Served more than 1000 SME units through Energy Audit & Technology up-gradation Services. In the realm of Corrosion Services through 8 Audits savings worth 400 lakh have been detailed. Nearly 720 organisation 1700 Managers benefitted from 24 Corrosion related training programmes.