SMEs Need The Focus: CII
EFY News Network
(Monday, May 07, 2007 5:13:20 PM)


The company has voiced its plan to focus intently on micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), which are globally identified as the frontrunners.

Monday, May 07, 2007: Kolkata: The need of the hour is to identify the crunch of skilled manpower and talent gaps in the sectors like IT, ITES, telecom, engineering process outsourcing, retail, manufacturing and agri-business and focus on SMEs, said Biswadip Gupta, chairman, CII (eastern region) and director, Vesuvius India Ltd, at the CII’s eastern region's principal work agenda for 2007-08 based on the theme of 'Building East to Build India'.
Gupta said, “CII will focus on the needs of small and medium enterprises, which form a significant portion of its work.” CII-ER has already rolled out its 'Affirmative Action' initiatives in Jharkhand, Chattisgarh, Orissa, Bihar and West Bengal, he added.

The confederation also plans to focus intently on micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), which are globally identified as the frontrunners.

Briefing mediapersons on CII eastern region's principal work agenda for 2007-08, Gupta said, “The plan of action involved carrying forward the work started on Affirmative Action and strengthening the corporate social responsibility of the industry in eastern region in terms of improving competitiveness of marginalised groups.”

Gupta pointed out, "We in CII intend to provide them a background for competing effectively in the market and making them potential employees by imparting skills to work efficiently in the private sector."

Clarifying that the core focus of CII work, activities and initiatives will relate to people and ways and means of making them effective, entrepreneurial and innovative, Gupta said, "We in CII will work with the youth in a multi-dimensional mode, touching the four areas of knowledge and skills, manufacturing innovation, sustainable growth and inclusive growth."

On CII's 'Affirmative Action' programme, taken up nationally, Sandipan Chakravorty, deputy chairman, CII-ER, and managing director, Tata Ryerson Ltd, said, “The idea was to create employability and entrepreneurship amongst the SC/ST people — to create at least 100 entrepreneurs every year. The target for eastern region was 25 entrepreneurs every year amongst the SC/ST groups.”