Mainly small-scale in nature, manufacturers were earlier exempt from excise

Sports goods industry seeks withdrawal of excise duty

Business Standard

Micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in India are facing stiff competition from China, the government has conceded.As per information compiled by the Director General of Commercial Intelligence & Statistics in respect of eight major product groups largely manufactured by small-scale industries in India, imports from China grew at a higher rate than their respective imports from all countries combined between 2008-09 and 2011-12.These eight product groups - which include electrical and electronics; mechanical and metallurgical products; chemical and glass and ceramics-based products - accounted for 54 per cent of India's total imports from China in 2011-12. A significant proportion of small enterprises are seen to be facing greater competition from China as compared to that from the rest of the world."Strong competition from China faced by Indian MSMEs is evident in the high growth of India's imports from China," Minister of State (Independent Charge) for MSME K H Muniappa ha

'MSMEs face stiff competition from China'

Credit Analysis & Research Limited (CARE Ratings) has launched a new product called "SME fundamental grading", which, it said will aid investors in taking informed investment decisions based on the fundamentals of small and medium enterprises (SMEs). It will also assist SMEs to differentiate themselves from others, thereby facilitating the raising of funds.With the introduction of SME platforms on the stock exchanges  - BSE SME Exchange and NSE Emerge - SMEs are now able to raise equity capital by listing on these platforms. With this development, it was important to classify entities with better business fundamentals for taking a long-term investment view, the agency said. This product is expected to fill this gap, it said.SME fundamental grading will be an independent and professional opinion on the fundamentals of a SME. It will be a relative assessment in relation to other Indian SMEs, involving an in-depth assessment of various quantitative and qualitative parameters of the en

CARE launches 'fundamental grading' of SMEs

BS Reporter

The proposed Rs 5,000-crore India Inclusive Innovation Fund focuses on supporting enterprises that develop novel solutions primarily for weaker sections who have limited access to basic services, government said today.

Innovation fund not for boosting competition among SMEs

State government is going to introduce a new scheme for the development of small and medium enterprises (SME) in Bihar.

New scheme for SME development in Bihar

Funds look at big firms where the perceived risk is lower

PE investments in SMEs decline 51%

Trade bodies suggest creation of the fund using premium money charged on conversion of land from lease hold to free hold status in industrial estates owned by Idco

MSMEs propose setting up of infrastructure fund

Companies that are contract-manufacturers and don't have their own products to market are looking to exit

Baddi drug firms face closure threat

In the backdrop of the opening up of foreign direct investment (FDI) in multi-brand retail, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) have sought the government's help in setting up a branding and export marketing fund as part of the forthcoming Foreign Trade Policy 2009-2014, expected to be unveiled in April.The primary objective of such a fund would be to promote and create awareness of Indian SME labels in markets overseas and within India, said Deep Kapuria, Chairman of CII's National MSME Council."The proposed fund could enable positioning of Indian MSME products and services and help create new market opportunities, as foreign retailers that invest in India are required to source at least 30 per cent of their goods from Indian SMEs," Kapuria said.Going forward, SMEs supplying to global retail companies in India would need to focus on the quality standards set by these companies, gain a firm understanding of their complex vendor management systems, and scale up in accordance with the de

SMEs pitch for brand-building fund

Solvent extraction plants across India are seeing a  decline in returns on their investments. Data available with the Solvent Extractors' Association of India showed that out of 600 plants, fewer than 400 are operational. And those operational are running at 30-40 per cent capacity because of insufficient raw material.Since government agencies lack storage space for processed rice, the availability of paddy for CMR (custom milled rice) is limited. (Paddy is procured by government agencies and given to mills piecemeal for processing. Paddy can be stored in open plinths, but rice cannot be kept out in the open, so the government agencies have large stocks of paddy with them). This bottleneck is responsible for under-utilisation of capacity by solvent extraction plants.To be viable, a solvent extraction plant needs to have a capacity of not less than 300 tonnes, as smaller units have higher economic costs. The Executive Director of the Solvent Extractors' Association of India, B V Mehta,

Oilseed extractors run at low capacity

Eco Securities, a global carbon credit player, is planning an awareness project in Rajasthan. Eco Securities, a global player in carbon credit, plans to create awareness among small and medium

Greening waste

Firepro, an award-winning fire safety solutions provider, is expanding its footprints globally.


Fire proof growth

An Israeli software could help cut down communication costs by as much as 15 per cent.


Calls just got cheaper

With an EPCG licence, on imports of Rs 1 crore, you can save Rs 31.64 lakh in duties.


Normal duty on capital goods

AUTOMATION: The broad trend is towards IT-friendly factory floors.

Rockwell eyes Indian SME sector

SPOTLIGHT: Set up at a time when the IT industry was facing a crisis, Bangalore-based 24x7 Learning Solutions is now reaping the benefits of innovation

Upgrading IT skills

AUTOMATION: State govts are pitching in to help firms.

The patent race is on

If it's paid in cash, the duty wont be considered for computation of net duty saved.


CVD payment on EPCG imports

PC PROTECTION: Most SMEs don't even filter the web content they download for harmful software.

Virus threats on the rise

Vimal Kapur, the newly appointed managing director of Honeywell Automation India, is eyeing the small and medium businesses to widen his companys footprints in the country. 


Honeywell looks for wider footprints

Commissions against orders can be remitted after realisation of proceeds.


Exporters can retain forex

SME: Find all the latest news on Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises in India. Explore more for the top headlines about SME sector on Business Standard.

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