NSIC to assist Saurashtra-based MSMEs on marketing front

This year NSIC is expecting over 120,000 visitors at the Saurashtra Techmart Exhibition.

In a bid to provide a platform to the Rajkot-based small and medium enterprises having operations mainly in the pump and engineering sector, National Small Industries Corporation Limited (NSIC) would provide marketing assistance to the small units.

"The biggest issue with small industries is that they are unable to market their products. Most units seem to be not aware about marketing. They need proper guidance for marketing of their products. NSIC is going to provide them a platform through which they can market their products in the global market," said N K Subramani, deputy general manager, NSIC Rajkot. Government-run NSIC will organise an exhibition namely, 'Saurashtra Techmart' during February 2012, he informed.

According to Subramani, "Small business entrepreneurs have their own limitations to reach out to the global market. Moreover, finance has also remained an issue for marketing their products in a big way. Such kind of exhibition is an ideal place to network and establish new business contacts, discuss new market opportunity and enhance market access in the industry."

The exhibition will be spread over area of 7000 square meters and this will be perfect exposure for those who are interested in keeping abreast with the new technology development in the micro and small sectors. The show covers the wide range of engineering goods, health care, tourism and products of allied industries and business houses.

In this exhibition NSIC is expecting more than 200 participants. Last year exhibition, more than 80000 people visited the expo from across India at Rajkot and this year NSIC is expecting over 1.20 lakh visitors in Saurashtra Techmart Exhibition.

Indian multinational companies like Tata Motors, Maruti and Hyundai are also likely to participate in the exhibition, while small companies from Pune and Delhi would also join the exhibition.

Rajkot, which has been considered as a hub for auto parts industry, is now emerging as a major player in the pumps sector. The NSIC is also looking to encourage local entrepreneurs to capitalise on their products and the technology developed by them.

"We are talking with several industrial associations to participate in the exhibition and support the industry. However, we are not asking them for financial support as this is a fully government-sponsored programme," said Subramani.

Keeping up pace with the changing times, NSIC is looking at providing assistance to the MSMEs towards process development for technology up-gradation. NSIC will also organise seminars and one-to-one business meets during the Saurashtra Techmart exhibition, which is believed to facilitate MSMEs acquire and update technology as well as assimilate the same in the marketing of their quality products.