New Delhi, Feb 7 (KNN) The Foundation for MSME Clusters (FMC) in conjunction with Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) and Ministry of MSME organized a ‘Cluster Conclave and 5th Responsible BMO Award: Innovate to lead’ in the capital city yesterday.

On the occasion, Minister of State (IC), Ministry of MSME, Government of India, Giriraj Singh launched the web portal and brochure for promoting market transformation for energy efficiency in MSMEs.

Addressing the gathering, MSME Minister emphasized on indigenous cluster and smart industries for the growth and development of country.

He said “Cluster is not only a medium of technology but also a medium of marketing. Linking technology with cluster makes its more competitive and marketable.”

Stressing on indigenous technology and cluster with a tagline-From Charkha to Chandrayaan, Singh asserted that on one hand we are giving importance to artificial intelligence, robotics and industrial revolution 4.0, on the other hand we are promoting and increasing clusters.

He said “With the given indigenous technology, if we would promote clusters then nobody could stop us from providing employment.”

In addition, he also shared his vision that the day we have provided employment to women through cluster then nobody could stop India’s GDP growth as well.

Through the medium of clusters, we need to bring technology as well as generate employment, he concluded.

Speaking on the occasion, Secretary of Ministry of MSME, Dr. AK Panda said “The biggest problem that has been hindering the growth of MSMEs is information asymmetry.”

He urged Business Membership Organizations (BMOs), MSME associations and various MSME clusters to help MSMEs in bridging this information gap.

He said it is the responsibility of Ministry of MSME, BMOs, MSME associations and clusters to tell them about the problems, schemes and solutions.

Stressing on smart manufacturing and responsible manufacturing, Panda said “Smart Manufacturing requires bringing efficiency in manufacturing and it can be done when Micro and small units compete with medium enterprises; medium compete with large enterprises and large enterprises to compete with Chinese products entering in market.

While on responsible manufacturing, Panda shared that the manufacturing should not be detrimental to the environment, it should be responsible towards the future generation.

Additional Secretary cum DC MSME, Ram Mohan Mishra deliberated on seven pillars essential for the promotion of MSMEs. Of this, Mishra said, innovation is the most important pillar which can enhance the competitiveness of Indian companies.

Addressing the gathering, Project Director of GIZ , Chaman Lal Dhandha said that India and Germany relationship with regard to sustainable development has completed 60 years now.

Talking about the program, he said this program has been initiated under the aegis of Ministry of MSME in 2015 to provide international support to SMEs in India from Germany with regard to innovation.

He added that “Medium of innovation is worldwide and we will take an initiative to link India’s most important MSME sector which is the biggest creator of job with innovation under this project.”

Highlighting 3 important components of the project, he mentioned that our objective is to link SMEs/industry with academia to bridge the innovation information gap.

The 2^nd main initiative is related to BMO’s he added saying that we would establish innovation information cells in BMOs to provide worldwide innovation information to them.

Besides, we will focus on startups to provide them favorable environment to help them promote new ideas and products with collaboration of Ministry.

He also shared the vision to help Indian SMEs by sharing success stories of Germany with regard to innovation.

Dhandha, thanked the participants or BMO’s attending the conclave and those who were facilitated with BMO awards.