In order to ensure safe fun for toddlers, toy manufacturers in India have embarked on a green drive by initiating a recycling process and the use of non-toxic raw materials.

Indian toymakers go green and clean

Business Standard

It&rsquo;s a catch-22 situation for Saurashtra-based small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Not only is there a manpower shortage, but SMEs are now also finding automation too costly as an alternative.

'Labour is scarce, automation costly'

We have imported certain capital goods under the Export Promotion Capital Goods (EPCG) scheme two years back under the 3 per cent EPCG scheme. Due to changes in market conditions, we cannot fulfil the export obligation to the extent of eight times the duty saved. An EOU wants to buy the capital goods.

'Imports under EPCG scheme can be transferred to EOUs'

The stage is set for the launch of the SME Exchange by the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) in September, but most of the potential beneficiaries do not seem to know about it.

New stock exchange an unknown entity

The India Semiconductor Association (ISA) is hopeful that the new policy initiatives charted by the Central government will be approved by the end of this year. In an interview, ISA Chairman Pradip K Dutta, who is also the managing director of the India operations of US-based Synopsys, a provider of electronic design automation (EDA) software for semiconductor manufacturing, tells K Rajani Kanth that the National Electronics Mission (NEM) and the Electronics Development Fund (EDF) envisaged by the Centre will help start-ups and SMEs alike in vying for a bigger share of the industry pie.

Q&A: Pradip K Dutta, Chairman, ISA

Faced with power shortages, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Haryana and Punjab are focusing on energy efficiency measures through a variety of projects.

Haryana, Punjab units focus on energy savings

Hardesh Gulati, a B-school grad, has a brilliant idea &ndash; that of building a unique customer relationship management (CRM) platform &ndash; and has already written a business plan prior to floating his own company. However, like his peers, Gulati is confronted with the problem of approaching an angel investor or a venture capital firm to get start-up capital.

Apptivo's fundraising app to foster smaller units in India

We had imported a certain consignment and paid duty. The goods have reached our factory but the Bill of Entry (B/E) is lost. We are unable to take Cenvat Credit.

'Standard input consumption are norms acceptable to CBEC'

Most cricket equipment used by well-known Indian players sport logos of big multi national companies (MNCs) who sponsor them.

SMEs to hit a six with World Cup and IPL-4

Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) have urged the Centre against enforcing job reservations in the sector.

MSMEs to Centre: Do not enforce job reservation

The Union Minister for Textiles has directed the National Centre for Design and Product Development (NCDPD) and the Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH) to initiate capacity and skill development programmes for artisans across 30 clusters in the country.

Handcrafting an export boost

The gems and jewellery sector in India, consisting of a large number of small and medium enterprises (SMEs), has started to shine again, according to a survey conducted by IndiaMART Knowledge Services (previously known as IndiaMART Research Unit).

Gems and jewellery market shines again: Survey

We had taken Cenvat Credit incorrectly but reversed our action before utilising the credit, but now the department says that we must pay interest from the date of taking Credit to the date of reversal.

'Interest is recoverable if Cenvat credit is wrongly taken or utilised'

Dunda handicrafts, known for their grey and white designs, are poised for a radical change.

Dunda weavers to embrace colour

Ahmedabad-based Cluster Pulse has successfully developed an information and communication technology (ICT) cluster of 23 IT start-ups in Switzerland. Known for its cluster development expertise, Cluster Pulse &ndash; an international trade consulting firm which is a group company of the city-based Global Network &ndash; had been working with start-ups for a year to set up an ICT cluster in Switzerland.

Cluster Pulse develops ICT cluster in Switzerland

About 15,000 coconut farmers in eastern Karnataka&rsquo;s Tumkur district are set to double their income this year. These farmers, who were making a living by selling copra, are looking at gaining additional income from what they had until now regarded waste &mdash; coconut husk.

From waste to value

Even as it raises the banner of revolt against the European Union over the ban on the use of Endosulfan, the Pesticides Manufacturers and Formulators&rsquo; Association of India (PMFAI) is gearing up to lock horns with the Central Insecticides Board and the Union Ministry of Agriculture over a threat to the pesticide industry &mdash; issuance of registrations to import readymade pesticide formulations, without registering the technicals.

Q&A: Pradip Dave, President, PMFAI

Reduction in taxation, increase in aid for innovation and assistance by way of facilitating credit availability are the dominant themes of the Budget wish-list that small and medium enterprises (SMEs) across sectors have for the finance minister.

Small businesses list big wishes for the budget

The latest round of interest rate hikes by banks has hurt the profitability and competitiveness of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) by increasing the cost of credit.

MSMEs in Gujarat feel the heat of interest rate hikes

An overseas party places an order on a Domestic Tariff Area (DTA) unit for delivering raw materials to a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) unit. The SEZ unit manufactures finished products out of such raw materials and effects exports from the SEZ, with export documents containing names of both DTA and SEZ units, and remits money towards the cost of such raw materials to the DTA unit and manufacturing charges to the SEZ unit.

'Earnings through job-work can count as export turnover of SEZs'

Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the apparel and fashion accessories sector still face a number of bottlenecks, according to a survey conducted by IndiaMART Knowledge Services.

Apparel units yet to see full recovery: Survey

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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