The International seminar was participated by members of BIMSTEC countries, namely, Nepal, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, India, and while Peoples’ Republic of Bangladesh nominated Engineer Moyeed Roomi, representing National Association of Small and Cottage Industries of Peoples’ Republic of Bangladesh, he could not participate during the last moment. Similarly, The People’s Republic of Sri Lanka made two nominations. The Secretary, Ministry of Advanced Technology and National Enterprise Development, Govt. of Sri Lanka could not participate in the last moment because of his other ministerial preoccupation. The Minister of Industry, Govt. of Thailand expressed his keen desire to participate in the Seminar and desired for official invitation, which could not be done because of protocol. But it is pertinent to mention that representatives from Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand and India presented country papers encompassing the total position of their countries commencing from geographical area, population, natural and industrial resources highlighting the features of the small, village, cottage and small industries sector of their countries. They were unhesitant in admitting where they are lacking in progress, what is their future plan and what co-operation they are in need to make their country developed. They earnestly desired to come to a memorandum of understanding with Indian Council of Small Industries (ICSI) for information sharing. It is also evident from their versions that they need to develop their human resources and there is an emergent need for developing their skills. They also mentioned that their countries are making all possible endeavours to raise the level of income of the people.
The seminar was attended by many delegates from SSI associations, Small Industries, particularly those who are concerned in ancillaries. And the singular beauty of the seminar was the projection by Bharat Heavy Electrical Limited and Bharat Dynamics Limited who are doing pioneering job in promoting ancillary industries in India. So far Bharat Dynamics Limited is concerned, they came out with the fact that approx. 92% of the components of sub-assemblies are manufactured indigenously by ancillary industries.
The Chief Guest, Shri S.K. Bagrodia, MP, and Chairman, Department Related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Industry, while expressing his satisfaction in associating him with this seminar, made a mention that benefits of globalization must be available to the SSI and Tiny sector and he observed, “the movement of global capital has resulted in acquisition/merger/consolidation of bigger businesses”. He exhorted that expanding economic co-operation in the areas mutually agreed upon among the parties will complement deepening the trade and investment links among the parties and formulate the programmes in the agreed sector/areas of cooperation by establishing appropriate mechanism for implementation. He also said that six sectors have been identified for co-operation i.e. trade and investment, technology, transportation, communication, tourism vis-ŕ-vis energy. He stressed that SSI sector will get the opportunity to cater high-end market. He also emphasized that we are keen to play active role in regional economic alliance like BIMSTEC to bring out collective responsibility in the region. He also pointed out that without permanent secretariat and other institutional framework BIMST-EC will not be able to realize its full potential. He hoped the concerned Ministry and departments will extend necessary support to business bodies and associations to take full advantages and opportunities of BIMST-EC offers.
Dr. (Ms) Syeda Hameed, Adviser, Planning Commission, while delivering her speech, emphasised that BIMSTEC meet is coming together of countries with common objective, which is a wonderful thing. Dr. Satyananda Mishra, IAS, Addl. Secretary and DC-SSI, recalled his association with the SSI Industries and made specific emphasis that this seminar is an endeavour to integrate with other countries through regional blocks, which would promise a good life to our countrymen and help to come closer with our neighbouring countries which have long cultural relations with us. Shri S.K. Verma, Director, MER Division, Ministry of External Affairs, underlined the need for piecing together the facilities available with BIMSTEC countries and come out with best products that we can offer to the world. He emphasised that we are having cheaper labour and skills and we would try to integrate the best quality of products. Shri R.S. Ratna, Director, Ministry of Commerce and Industries, while explaining the niceties of free trade in terms of on going negotiations of free trade agreements with the member countries, explained that there is no institutional memory and support system and emphasized the need to develop a support system. And Shri K.K. Sarkar, from Indian Council of Small Industries submitted that to make the co-operation meaningful and to develop a common bond between SSI and SME communities of BIMSTEC countries, there is a need to facilitate co-operation, expertise, technical know how and human resources by imparting training for skill development both at entry point and existing workers as well developing entrepreneurs base so that the entrepreneurs are in the pipe line when every attempt is there to make their respective countries for investment destination.
The seminar concluded with a happy note and the members of the BIMSTEC countries made a joint deliberation and came out with recommendation/suggestion:
- To promote business under SME Sector;
- Sharing experience;
- Developing linkage between backward and forward;
- To develop a data bank of sub-assemblies of BIMSTEC countries, to develop technology exchange and to make a directory;
- To devise common programme for developing human resource from unskilled for the existing workers and for those who are at entry point for developing entrepreneurship base.
The nominee of Myanmar specifically solicited for co-operation for exchanging technical know how and management of SME sector so that people of Myanmar are helped with inputs of training in different areas while the nominee of Nepal suggested for developing co-operation by partnership, more exploratory meetings are to be organized by ICSI at Kolkata with support of Government. The representative of Sri Lanka also made emphasis to come to a memorandum of understanding with ICSI on the basis of co-operation for exchange of technology and human resources development by imparting training for skill development, reskilling and skill upgradation.
Participants of the Seminar
Programme Schedule
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