Aurangabad, July 6 (KNN) To highlight technology upgradation for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), the Department of Commerce has undertaken an initiative for technological upgradation for boosting engineering exports with EEPC India as the implementing agency.

The Department of Heavy Industries (DHI), has agreed to extend its support to the initiative through its Scheme for Global Competitiveness of Capital Goods Sector.

Under the scheme the grant of upto 80% is to be provided to the institutions for setting up and strengthening the technology development infrastructure and common manufacturing/services infrastructure.

EEPC India in association with Department of Commerce, NRDC (National Research Development Corporation), and Chamber of Marathwada Industries & Agriculture, (CMIA) Aurangabad organized a Technology Meet at Aurangabad.

N Ramakrishnan, Deputy Secretary, Department of Commerce said that it is the initiative of Department of Commerce and the goal is to improve the global Indian export ranking, change the  mindset of ‘reverse engineering’,  break the jinx of being a ‘Technology follower’ and move into ‘Technology leader’ space and achieve the winning aspirations of engineering exporters through scientific community,

 Ramakrishnan mentioned the background of the initiative that India targeting to double share in world trade from 1.7% to 3.5% by 2020, existing commodities, except some, have reached a point where elasticity is less.

The Indian capital goods sector faces many challenges. It suffers from technology & knowledge obsolescence. As a result, India has become one of the largest importers of capital goods in the world with annual imports of US $ 20 billion. This adversely affects the indigenous capital goods industry and user industries, which face closures, loss of employment, investment and growth opportunities and also high cost of conversion.

Sanjay Chavre, Senior Development Officer, Department of Heavy Industry, Government of India made a presentation on Scheme for Global Competitiveness of Indian Capital Goods Sector. 

Rajat Srivastava, Regional Director, EEPC India mentioned the objective is to promote India’s export on a sustained basis to evolve specific market and specific product through market studies/surveys. 

Aurangabad cluster highlighted points with regard to technological requirements as academia and educational institute must go to industry more often, to be introduced technologies in metallurgy and develop new and exotic material work.

Industry representatives also expressed their desire to develop the technologies in the fields of Auto electronic, Automation and machining related technology, welding related technologies, sheet metal press and fabrications and assembly. (KNN/ AR)