At the outset, I take opportunity and congratulate Respected, Engineer Moyeed Roomi, representing National Association of Small & Cottage Industries, Bangladesh, nominee of representing People’s Republic of Bangladesh, Mr. U. Aung Soe Win, Adviser, Ministry of Industry (2), Union of Myanmar, Mr. Dhruba Lal Rajbamshi, Director, Department of Industries, His Majesty’s Government of Nepal, Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies, Mr. Nambukarawasam Mapalagama Gamage Lal Kumara, Secretary to the Ministry of Advance Technology and Enterprise Development Nominee of Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and Mr. Keith Sumanasena, President, Sri Lanka Chamber of Small Industries, Ms. Pairin Yamachinda, Chief of Policy and Planning Section, Office of Policy and Planning, the Office of Small and Medium Enterprises, Shri S. K. Bagrodia, Member of Parliament and Chairman, Department- related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Industry, Dr. (Ms.) Syeda Hameed, Member, Planning Commission, Govt. of India, Dr. Satyananda Mishra, IAS, Addl. Secretary and Development Commissioner, Ministry of Small Scale Industries (SSI), Govt. of India, Dr. P.L. Sanjeeva Reddy, IAS (Retd.), Former Secretary to Government of India, Director, Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA), New Delhi, Dr. C.S. Venkata Ratnam, Director, International Management Institute, New Delhi, Shri S. K. Verma, Director (MER), Ministry of External Affairs Shri R.S. Ratna, Director, Ministry of Commerce & Industries, representing India Nodal Department in BIMSTEC Co-operation on Trade and Investment, Govt. of India, Ms. Geetu Sidhu, Dy. Director, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, RMTR Division, Government of India, Hon’ble representatives of Heads of Diplomatic Missions of Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand, distinguished Presidents and Secretaries, Representatives from S.S.I. Associations & Chambers of Commerce, representatives from Electronic and Prints Media and Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen.

Dr. Ashoka Chandra delivering the Valedictory Address

Friends, the cottage, small, tiny and medium industries are playing a pivotal role in every country and as I find from the presentation of the BIMSTEC member countries, they are doing wonderful jobs. The situation has changed considerably after globalization and the small scale sector has been thrown open to competition and despite innumerable problems confronted by them, their achievements are a miracle. Miracle in the sense, it is employment oriented with low capital investment, low gestation period and it is playing its role silently to keep continuity in the production process of core sector, be it steel, coal mining, textile, jute manufacturing, chemicals, heavy engineering, light engineering, automobiles, defence installation, scientific research and development organization and what not. This seminar is directed to explore the possibilities and areas of co-operation and to unfurl the dormant, latent and potent capacities of the unused and underutilized human resources as well the vast natural resources the BIMSTEC countries are possessing. Say for example, Myanmar, although agriculture based, but it is identified as natural gas potential and the potentiality is being tapped.

There is co-operation on renewable energy which is essentially necessary in the wake of rising oil prices and concern for energy security. It is also observed that deployment of renewable energy in developed countries was essentially driven by climate change. It is observed that though oil and gas might continue to be dominant fuel for most part of the 21st century, new and renewable energy would also become a vital component of energy needs. With that view of the matter, renewable energy technologies like wind power, solar, thermal, bio-mass gassifier, and small hydro-power have become technically feasible and are being deployed both in grid-interactive and distributed generation modes and works remains to be done. BIMSTEC member countries in this area are to explore ways and means to strengthen the co-operation mechanism. It is laudable to mention that solar energy centre Gurgaon has been identified as the technical focal point for standard and testing of solar system/devices with active associations of Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. It was also agreed that alternate small hydro-sector should be devised and BIMSTEC member countries should make every endeavour to share Indian experience on deployment of wind and turbine generation. Solar photo voltaic and solar water heating system sectors should exchange experience, expertise in village electrification and heating applications in India and abroad. The Indian Institute of Science is the resource centre and technical focal point for consultancy. Thailand would co-ordinate co-operation activities in rice-husk based co-generation in association with India. It is also agreed that Myanmar would develop a dynamic BIMSTEC renewable energy website with the active support of all member countries. Nepal would also co-ordinate co-operation activities in small hydro-power in association with India.

When this is a maiden endeavour, first of its kind, there is no secretariat for BIMSTEC and there is no institutional support system although negotiation is going on for free trade arrangement. System is being devised for free trade arrangement for the developing and least developing member countries and a sensitive list is being drawn which is under negotiation and every endeavour is there in the gubernatorial exercise to fortify each other’s interest and once settled, this will fortify the interest of the products of the BIMSTEC countries against third country imports. Alongside, hassle is there in determining the Roots of Origin (ROO) and quantum of value addition. I hope this will be settled soon and the items produced by cottage, tiny, small and medium industries would get due weightage and the impasse would be resolved.

As I see the regime of quota, licence, permit, controls are things of the past and a level playing field and free competition are the order of the day. To-day only those business enterprises can survive and flourish which can deliver the best goods and services at competitive prices, and can bring not only customer’s satisfaction but customer’s delight. Now emphasis is on customer’s delight.

This warrants access of new technology, access of information, market development assistance and to bid good-bye to obsolete technology. So far, the Government of India is concerned, at present, the policy is to extend all out assistance for technology upgradation and I believe the Associations of the SSI sector, while pursuing the interest of the sector will adopt proactive approach to be ready to match happily with the changing situation. I strongly believe mis-match enterprises, cannot survive in the global economy. Therefore, we are to match with the time, match with technology, match with the tastes of customers which are constantly changing. If we are to survive, we are to pay more and more attention on research and development otherwise whether small or big, none can survive.

I believe to make the thing happen to the tune of time, we are to reskill existing workers of the SME enterprises and turn them into multi-skilled craftsmen. Alongside, simultaneously new entrepreneurs are to be developed by rendering appropriate training to make one’s country an investment destination. Ironically, when investors are there, entrepreneurs are not available. When jobs are in plenty for the technically qualified ones, supply is not there. Again, there is a mismatch with demand and supply. So we should always determine the Monday’s need. Here, what I mean to say by Monday’s need is a planning for human resources development which is a sine qua non for the member countries.

Before I conclude, I would like to convey my thanks to Indian Council of Small industries for inviting me to deliver this address and I wish all success in their mission of infusing a spirit of camaraderie amongst the members of the BIMSTEC countries.

I wish let there be a permanent set up for the governance of BIMSTEC co-operation, and I wish the year 2006 be the landmark of BIMSTEC co-operation.