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Our Bureau

Hyderabad, June 4 While encouraging exports is a general concern of every nation, the promotion of exports of the small and medium enterprises (SMEs) has become a universal concern, according to Dr H. Hemnath Rao, Director, Centre for Poverty and Rural Development, Administrative Staff College of India.

“SMEs have a critical balancing role to play. The sector makes a vital contribution for inclusive growth, which has become the need of the hour,” he said addressing a seminar on Small and Medium Enterprises and Exports, organised by the Federation of Andhra Pradesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FAPCCI) here on Wednesday.

Dr Rao added that the Act for the SME sector which came out in 2006 has filled a void in terms of the legislative and administrative actions of the sector.

He emphasised that SMEs should focus on testing their products in the domestic market before going in for exports. “It is important to have a product which is different from what already exists in the market and before facing international competition it is important to recognise that competition is there at your own door step,” Dr Rao said.

Earlier, Mr Suraj Prasad Agarwal, Senior Vice-President, FAPCCI, said that the labour intensity in the sector was estimated to be almost four times higher than the large enterprises absorbing huge surplus potential in the agriculture sector.

“The SME units form over 90 per cent of the industrial sector and contribute around 45 per cent of the country’s manufacturing output. They are engaged in the production of around 8,000 items mainly that of intermediates, machinery and consumer goods, the value of which is estimated to be $100 billion,” he said.

More Stories on : SSI | Andhra Pradesh

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