First Program introduce by Knitwear & Textile Club

Launch of Cluster Level Intervention Program (CLIP) and Seminar on Government & SIDBI Schemes for MSMEs

Ludhiana, May 27, 2015: The MSME sector in India has emerged as the engine of economic growth by contributing significantly towards industrial production (45%), exports (40%) and employment generation (110 million) – the second largest source of employment after agriculture. Notwithstanding the same, such growth of MSME sector is considered much below its potential growth rate.

 To work towards addressing the financial and non-financial issues of MSME clusters in India, SIDBI has carried out studies in 30 MSME clusters hindering availability of adequate and timely institutional credit, infrastructure and marketing gaps and lack of support services affecting the growth and competitiveness of these clusters.

 SIDBI has identified 5 gaps which are common to most of the clusters (a) Skill Development Gap, (b) Infrastructure Gap, (c) Knowledge Gap, (d) Credit Gap & (e) Policy Advocacy. Apart from these, there are certain cluster specific gaps which also need to be addressed. As a precursor to the detailed interventions covering all gaps, SIDBI has started  a short tem Cluster Level Intervention Programme (CLIP) covering  two common gap areas i.e. (i) Knowledge and (ii) Skill Development Gap. Under CLIP, out of the 30 MSME clusters studied, SIDBI has planned to make intervention in around 11 MSME clusters, spread across various regions /zones. On successful launch and based on the experience and findings, the interventions may be rolled out in the remaining clusters.

Cluster-Level Intervention Programme (CLIP) for MSMEs is being run in 11 identified MSME clusters. In North region it is running in three clusters viz. Knitted apparel cluster, Ludhiana, Punjab, Textile and floor covering cluster, Panipat, Haryana and Pharma cluster, Dehradun, Uttarakhand.

Mr. Rajveer Singh of Clusterkraft told that creating awareness on energy issues including energy audits, organising workshop on QC & QA, providing training in advanced knitting techniques, finding solution to skill and occupational health issues in the cluster and promoting brand Ludhiana are the key interventions planned under the programme. He also circulated a “Knowledge Capsule” on Government and SIDBI Schemes for the benefit of MSMEs. In the documents all relevant schemes for MSMEs has been presented in very user friendly manner.

Mr. Pradyumna Kumar Choudhary highlighted how SIDBI is working towards financial inclusion of MSMEs. Mr. Pratush Mishra AGM, SIDBI, Ludhiana presented on various schemes of SIDBI available to MSMEs and invited the local industry to take maximum benefits of the schemes.

Mr. Piyush Agrawal, Assistant Director, MSME-DI highlighted the support provided by MSME-DI, Ludhiana to local entrepreneurs. Mr. Agrawal made a detailed presentation on the government schemes available to MSME.

President of Knitwear and Textile Club, Mr. Vinod Thapar told about the objectives of the club and on behalf of the members assured active participation in SIDBI’s cluster programme. Mr. Charanjiv Singh, secretary of the club also addressed the participants and thanked them for their whole-hearted participation.