NSIC has been growing at a commendable pace. Tell us about its journey and critical factorsIJ
NSIC has grown in leaps and bounds since its establishment in 1955. It has been working towards promoting, aiding and fostering the growth of micro and small-scale industries and industry-related services and business enterprises in the country. Over a period of five decades of transition, growth and development, NSIC has proven its strength within the country and abroad by promoting modernisation, upgradation of technology, quality consciousness, strengthening linkages with large and medium enterprises and enhancing exports projects and products from micro and small industries. One of the critical factors surrounding NSIC is that it is structuring its menu in accordance with the requirements of the MSMEs (Indian Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise) sector. If you provide a scheme to the costumer and he or she is not satisfied with it, it has no meaning. So we are providing our scheme according to the MSMEs sector for their growth.
What steps have you taken to enhance your presence in IndiaIJ
India is very promising and we are trying to make our presence felt in a big way. From just 25 offices in the past, we have set up around 250 more today. We are still in the expansion mode and are identifying new areas where we can help the small enterprises. We want to make the small industries globally competitive.
How do you reach out to the MSMEs in this scattered marketIJ
We are not only doing it through physical means via our our branches but are also publishing our schemes through the press, television and email etc. We have also c organised road shows and done cluster-based campaigning. In this programme we invite local industries in a cluster for half a day. It’s an interactive way of reaching out.
As the SMEs have limited resources how do you see the sector evolvingIJ
The SMEs (Small and medium enterprises) sector is going evolve into a big force in the times to come. In India it is a very robust sector that is showing almost 11-12 per cent growth every year even in the time of recession. It’s a very strong sector because In a country like India, there is a huge program of unemployment in young generation where are they going to be engaged it is only in small business self employ enterprises otherwise there is no big industries. So if we are talking about large industries so SMEs gives better opportunities. This model has been appreciated by many developing countries like Ethiopia, Mozambique, Gambia, Zimbabwe, Egypt and libya to name a few, who have requested the NSIC to replicate the same in their country. The Government of India has already engaged the NSIC to set up Rapid Incubation Centres in 10 African countries under the aegis of the India — Africa Forum.
What are your future prospectsIJ
According to the 2011 Census of India, the country has 640 districts wherein at least one Training-cum-Incubation Centre may be opened during the 12th Five Year Plan (2012-2017). If the average batch size for a course of three-month duration would be 30 candidates, then a centre would be able to provide training to 600 candidates in a year. Accordingly, the proposed 640 centres would be able to provide training to 3,84,000 candidates in a year. All these candidates, after successful completion of their training period, would become employable at related manufacturing units or capable of setting up their own manufacturing units. Considering that at least a third of these trained candidates would be interested in starting their own enterprise, it is envisaged that approximately 1,30,000 candidates (out of a trained number of 3,84,000) would establish their own micro enterprises and become job providers for approximately 6,50,000 unemployed people in the initial stage. With the growth in the operation of the unit, this number would increase subsequently.
It would not be out of place to mention that micro enterprises are the nursery of the big enterprises. Establishment of 1,30,000 micro enterprises in a year through the efforts of 640 training-cum-incubation centres would develop the culture of self employment, which would also make significant contribution to the GDP of the country.