The Hindu Business Line : India backs C’wealth in developing MSME sectors

Kochi, June 30 India has assured the London-based Commonwealth Secretariat (CS) of full support to the member countries with regard to skill development in the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) sectors to make their products competitive in the global market.

This assurance was echoed in the valedictory address by the Coir Board Chairman, Mr V. S. Vijayaraghavan at the four-day 9th Commonwealth-India Small Business Competitiveness Development Programme and pan Commonwealth Natural Fibres Skill Development Programme, held in Bangalore earlier this week.

India at present leads among the estimated 53 member countries of the CS in the technology of processing coir and allied natural fibres, a release issued by Coir Board said.

The four-day event also reviewed some of the MSME initiatives undertaken by the Secretariat including technical assistance provided to countries/institutions promoting MSMEs/ industries in general including those utilizing natural fibres. The economic significance, development and utilization of natural fibre, especially among small rural farmers and women entrepreneurs in the commonwealth, also came up for a broad reassessment during the session.

Organised to coincide with the International Year of Natural Fibre-2009, declared by the United National General Assembly, the international conference was attended by over 50 delegates drawn from more than 30 countries. It was inaugurated on June 21 by former President Mr A. P. J. Abdul Kalam.

Dr U. S. Sharma, Director of Central Coir Research Institute, Alapuzha, attended the programme as resource person.

The CS has been collaborating with the Coir Board since March 2007 in hosting a series of pan-Commonwealth institutional building programmes on small business competitiveness development.

The Commonwealth is a voluntary association of 53 countries that support each other and work together towards shared goals in democracy and development.

The world’s largest and smallest, richest and poorest countries make up the Commonwealth and are home to two billion citizens of all faiths and ethnicities – over half of whom are 25 or under. Member countries span six continents and oceans.

The Commonwealth, with roots as far back as the 1870s, believes that the best democracies are achieved through partnerships – of governments, business, and civil society.

This unique association was reconstituted in 1949 when Commonwealth Prime Ministers met and adopted what has become known as the ‘London Declaration’.