Coimbatore, Aug 26 (KNN) FISME Defence Suppliers’ Group (FDSG) initiated a programme in collaboration with Coimbatore District Small Scale Industries Association (CODISSIA) for creating awareness about the opportunities lying for MSMEs in the ‘Make in India’ programme of the defence ministry.

FDSG is a dedicated forum of Federation of Indian Micro and Small & Medium Enterprises (FISME) for capacity building, hand holding and facilitating MSMEs for participation in the ‘Make in India’ programme of defence ministry.

The collaborative activities were launched with a seminar on Participation of MSMEs in Defence ‘Make in India’ here recently. The seminar was organised concurrently with ‘SUBCON’, the annual sub-contracting fair organised by CODISSIA in its exhibition complex at Coimbatore.

The seminar was attended by Pushpak Prakash, Head of FDSG, Professor Deba Mohanty, Consultant of FDSG and senior executives from Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Goa Shipyards, two leading warship building companies under defence ministry. The session was chaired by Sundaram V, President, CODISSIA.

Pushak Prakash, Head, FDSG, in his address at the seminar, mentioned about the multi – billion dollar acquisition programme of the defence ministry and the huge market available to the MSMEs as tier 2 or tier 3 suppliers.

In his opening address, Sundaram, President CODISSIA, motivated the participating entrepreneurs to upgrade as defence suppliers. The CODISSIA members are fully capable of producing and supplying high quality engineering products and they need handholding to qualify through the suppliers’ enlistment process of the defence ministry, he mentioned.

Prof Mohanty, Consultant, FDSG and an expert on defence acquisition, explained the process of qualification of defence suppliers. He mentioned that he is already working with MSMEs of Tamil Nadu for supplies to Ordnance Factories at Avadi and Trichy. He welcomed the CODISSIA members to participate in defence supplies.

The executives from the Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Goa Shipyards detailed the range of items they procure from vendors and their respective process for registration of vendors.

It was concluded that CODISSIA will form their own group of defence suppliers and collaborate with FDSG for their handholding, capacity building etc.

The vote of thanks was proposed by Mr Yuvraj, CODISSIA senior member. (KNN/ DB)