Time To Go Global for Global Business Opportunities: Global SME Summit

Global SME Summit 2016 organized by WASME aimed to drive the momentum for SME Development through synthesizing knowledge and experiences on latest development for SMEs in more than 25 countries including Tanzania, Tajikistan, Bhutan, Egypt, Kenya etc. SMEStreet was the media partners for this event.

NEW DELHI: World Association for Small and Medium Enterprises (WASME) in association with National Institute for Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development (NIESBUD) has organized GLOBAL SUMMIT ON SME DEVLEOPMENT on September 5, 2016 at WASME International Secretariat, Noida.

The Summit began with the guest felicitation followed by welcome address by Ms. Sampa Banerjee, Executive Director, WASME. She thanked all the dignitaries and all international participants. Ms Banerjee briefed the audience about global initiatives in the field of SME development, specially in African and other developing countries.

Mr. Indra Dev Narayan, Vice President, WASME welcomed the eminent speakers and delegates and spoke about the development of SMEs in India and all over the world. Mr. Narayan highlighted the key initiatives of WASME.  This was followed by a presentation on WASME delivered by Ms. Archana Sharma, Head Communications at WASME.

Dr. Suvrokamal Dutta, the Guest of Honor, in his address highlighted that SMEs and agriculture are backbone of India even since a long history and shared his views on SME development in India in the form of Digital India campaign, FDI policy etc. He stated that currently Indian SMEs have seen huge amount of investment in handicrafts, jewellery manufacturing, and service providers. Further, Dr. Dutta, spoke about the challenges of SMEs.

Mr. Anil Jauhri, CEO NABCB, special guest for the summit highlighted the importance of international standards and stated that in developed countries standards are driven by market but in developing counties standards are regulated by respective governments. He urged that in order to increase the market, there is a need to strengthen the global value chain, promote international standards, private sustainability standards like GAP needs to be strictly followed by the SMEs. Mr. Jauhrialso talked about WTO agreement and the current challenges being faced by SMEs in the area of standard compliances, regulation, mandatory compliances, private standards to business in countries like US and Japan.

Later, a panel discussion on “Global Business Opportunities for SMEs” was held in which eminent speaker from industry, academic institutes, government officials shared their valuable insights. Mr Faiz Askari, Founder & Editor of SMEStreet.in moderated the panel discussion. Dr. R. R Singh, Director, NIESBUD was the Chair of panel discussion. In his opening address Dr. Singh highlighted the NIESBUD activities to support the SMEs at regional, national and international level and its commitment to create entrepreneurs. He laid emphasis on support required from government and private players.

The panelists were Dr. Suvrokamal Dutta, Eminent Media Personality, Mr. Anil Jauhri, CEO NABCB, Dr. Ajeet Kumar, Asst. Prof, KMC, Delhi University,Ms. Regina WakioKioko from Kenya.

Mr. Sudesh Verma, National Spokesperson of BJP, highlighted several schemes and initiatives taken up by the government for improvising the state of SMEs in India. Standup India, Make in India are some program initiated by government of India and also about the shift in focus form capital intensive industry that ignored small scale industry to pro investment in finance, infrastructure, schemes etc. for development of SMEs. Whereas Dr. Ajeet Kumar discussed on the various opportunities for SMEs in India as well as other countries.

Also, a case study was shared by Ms. Regina WakioKioko on Kenya and the various policy and development initiatives being undertaken to support the SMEs in Kenya

It was highly interactive panel discussion in which 53 participants from 25 countries and 15 participants from India enthusiastically participated. In Q & A round, delegates put questions regarding SMEs support in India, competition with Chinese products and global support to SMEs development by world agencies and WASME.