The Hindu Business Line : Microsoft to support SMEs in pharma cluster

Hyderabad, Jan. 23 About 300 small and medium pharma units in the Hyderabad Pharma Cluster can now look for Microsoft support for improving operational efficiency and innovation through Information Technology (IT).

Project Vikas, an initiative designed to extend IT support to the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), was formally launched here on Wednesday by Microsoft in association with National Manufacturing Competitive Council and the German Technical Corporation (GTZ).

“The objective of Vikas is to improve competitiveness of SMEs through offering IT solutions for operations and innovations,” Mr Anil Verghese, Project Head said. Launched in 2006, the project is being implemented in about 10 SME clusters across the country including Tirupur (textiles), Ahemadabad (pharmaceuticals) and Pune (automobiles). While no financial support would be extended, it would identify SME-suitable solutions such as Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and facilitate implementation.

GTZ SUPPORT

Mr N. Gurumurthy, Project Manager, GTZ SME Financing and Development Programme said the agency was working on roping in more banks to extend financial support for IT implementation.

“We have just concluded talks with Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) which has almost agreed to extend financial support to SMEs here in this regard,” he said. The German agency had earlier tied up with State Bank of India and State Bank of Hyderabad to facilitate SME financing.

The GTZ had also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Cluster Pulse, the implementing agency for Project Vikas in Hyderabad Cluster, he said. “So far, we had facilitated Rs 40 crore disbursal to 20 pharma SMEs here while the total disbursals including textiles sector is Rs 120 crore,” he added.

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