The Hindu Business Line : CII plans to develop 7 SME clusters in South

The Chairman, CII Southern Region, and Managing Director, Novar India Ltd, Mr ParasuRaman R, briefing the media on trade body's work plan and new initiatives for the current year in Hyderabad on Tuesday. — K. Ramesh Babu

Hyderabad , Aug 23

THE CII-Southern Region (CII-SR) plans to initiate seven more SME clusters in Bangalore, Madurai, Coimbatore, and Hyderabad by the end of April 2006 to take the total to 10. The three other clusters are at Ambattur in Chennai and Coimbatore.

Speaking to newspersons on Tuesday on the upcoming initiatives of CII-SR, Mr ParasuRaman R., Chairman, said that CII would also help SMEs in enhancing competitiveness in terms of cost management, energy management, and manufacturing excellence.

Stating that the chamber was closely working with the State Governments, he said that CII's State committees would prepare vision documents for Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Kerala respectively on a chosen industry. "These would be ready by March 31, 2006," he said.

He added that vision documents would be prepared for underdeveloped regions in these States. These would also be ready by March 31.

The CII would work with the Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry Governments for the implementation of VAT, while facilitating smooth transition to VAT regime in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Kerala.

With a view to facilitating State-level agricultural and labour reforms, CII plans to organise two forums in each State by March 31 next, focusing on issues related to these reforms.

Besides, CII plans to establish three Yi (Young Indians) chapters at Pondicherry, Coimbatore, and Mysore by April next. It has already opened four chapters in Bangalore, Chennai, Kochi, and Hyderabad.

On reservations to weaker sections in the private sector, he said that CII believed in equipping the youth with entrepreneurial skills rather than creating jobs on the basis of caste or creed.

As part of a countrywide plan to train 10 lakh youth in entrepreneurial skills, CII (SR) will train five lakh youth in the next five years. CII has roped in City and Guilds of London to impart skills.

"We are going to sign up with the Andhra Pradesh Government to decide on the mix and timeframe for this initiative in the State," he said.

CII (SR) is also targeting sensitisation of 1.5 lakh workers across the 150 member companies in Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry during the current fiscal. It will take up HIV/AIDS industry intervention projects in Karnataka, Kerala, and Andhra Pradesh.

CII (SR) members contribute 28 per cent of the region's GDP with gross sales turnover of Rs 1,47,817 crore. Karnataka members led the table with turnover of Rs 60,867 crore, representing 53 per cent of the gross State domestic product (GSDP) of Rs 1,13,929 crore.

Tamil Nadu stood second with Rs 61,967 crore, constituting 36 per cent of the State's GSDP of Rs 1,70,530 crore.

CII members in Andhra Pradesh contributed Rs 21,078 crore, or 13 per cent of GSDP of Rs 1,60,768 crore.

Green industrial park by year-end

CII in association with the Andhra Pradesh Government, is set to promote and market a 1,000-acre green industrial park at Jadcherla in Mahbubnagar.

Announcing this at a press conference here on Tuesday, Mr ParasuRaman R, Chairman of CII (Southern Region), said the park would be ready by the year-end. Land for the proposed park had been identified and modalities are being worked out.

The park, mooted by the then Telugu Desam Government, was aimed at encouraging environmental-friendly industries.

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