IMPROVEMENT
IN QUALITY OF SSI PRODUCTS ESSENTIAL TO FACE THE CHALLENGE OF
GLOBALISATION – DR. THAKUR
Dr. C.P. Thakur,
Minister for Small Scale Industry and Development of North Eastern
Region has said that in the context of globalisation there is
an urgent need to improve the competitiveness and the quality
of SSI products through technology upgradation. He said that the
sector has been showing steady growth and has put to rest the
apprehensions about its survival due to the onslaught of liberalisation.
The Minister was speaking at inaugural of the Vendor Development
Programme here today.
Dr. Thakur said that
the Government is trying to tackle the problems of availability
of credit and sickness in the SSI sector. The Ministry of SSI
is continuously pursuing with the RBI, Ministry of Finance and
other Commercial Banks to devise new methods for improving the
availability of credit to the Sector. Though the Banks are operating
dedicated schemes for SSI units but there is a lack of awareness
on the part of entrepreneurs to avail its benefits, the Minister
stated.
Elaborating on the
Vendor Development Programme, the Minister said the programme
provides enough alternative marketing opportunities to buyers
and sellers to ward off the fear of failure due to flow of imported
goods in the country. The need of the hour is to interact and
know each others requirements. He said that in the Defence Organisation
the Small Scale Sector should try to enhance its contributions
and give a thrust to the process of indigenisation.
Speaking on the occasion,
Union Minister for Defence, Shri George Fernandes said that the
facilities at Defence Research and Development Organisation are
available for the SSI for guidance in technological advancement
so as to increase SSI productivity. The Minister recalled the
recent small-scale industry exhibition held in Kolkata and said
that the Armed Forces showed keen interest in purchasing their
products. Referring to the thrust on indigenisation in the Defence
Ministry, the Minister said that the SSI can play a vital role
by increased participation in defence production. Citing the example
of the Light Combat Aircraft ‘Tejas’, Shri Fernandes said that
120 SSI were involved in its production.
Laghu Udyog Bharati
is organising the two-day National level Vendor Development Programme
cum Buyer-Seller Meet and Exhibition in association with National
Small Industries Corporation and Small Industries Service Institute.
