Omnitech InfoSolutions, a player in business availability and continuity solutions, has recently launched Revive &mdash; a disaster recovery solution for small and medium enterprises. The new disaster recovery (DR) solution over cloud computing technology offers a pay-per-use billing model, thus reducing capital expenditure and eliminating the need for dedicated disaster recovery hardware and software, IT staff and other operational costs, which are required in a DR setup.

Omnitech launches DR product

Business Standard

With over 10 per cent of the overall three million-odd small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the country present in Gujarat, Hitachi Data Systems is set to launch its cloud services for the segment from the state. The SMEs in Gujarat are said to be looking at data backup and email management services along with data and business analysis by cloud solutions providers.

Gujarat SMEs log on to cloud services to boost data backup

Some Dalit businessmen plan to launch a Rs 500 crore venture capital fund &mdash; India&rsquo;s first community-focused fund.

New policy assures Rs 7,000-cr business for Dalit, ST entrepreneurs

The town of Morbi, once known as India&rsquo;s foremost wall clock production hub, is fast losing this distinction, with Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai and Hyderabad providing some tough competition.

Tax woes displace Morbi as wall clock manufacturing hub

We export our goods through merchant exporters.

'Merchant exports can earn FTP benefits'

As the demand for information technology products and services increases in line with their role in growing businesses, small and medium enterprises in verticals ranging from healthcare to fitness companies to beauticians are adopting the IT route to gain visibility and enhance performance. Dell, the leader in the Indian personal computer market, is aggressively looking at expanding its reach in the SMB space in India.

Q&A: Bobby Mon, SMB, Dell India

The credit potential for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSMEs) sector in the state of Tamil Nadu is estimated at Rs 14,032.35 crore in 2012-13, according to the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Nabard).

Tamil Nadu MSMEs have Rs 14,032-cr credit potential

Indian SMEs have formed 11 joint ventures (JV) with their German counterparts in sectors such as auto components, machines and engineering goods, in the wake of the recently concluded third annual Indo-German Management Training Programme organised by the CII-Avantha Centre for Competitiveness for SMEs in collaboration with Germany.

Indian SMEs benefit from German training scheme

Plans to set up a training institute and a Rs 100-crore mega cluster.

Bengal government to revive the ailing handloom sector

Most surveys of small and medium enterprises conclude that small companies&rsquo; main problem is lack of access to inexpensive capital for funding expansion and modernisation. However, an almost equally intractable problem is availability of talent. This is particularly so for start-ups, and even more so for those in the knowledge space such as information technology.

Talent shortage a  major constraint for start-ups

We refer to the RBI Master Circular dated 1st July 2011 on Export of Goods and Services. As per Para C.20 of the Circular, banks can consider extending the period of realisation of export proceeds beyond 12 months from the date of export, up to a period of six months at a time, irrespective of the invoice value of the export, provided the total outstanding of the exporter does not exceed one million dollars or 10 per cent of the average export realisations during the preceding three financial years, whichever is higher. Our bankers say that for calculating our outstanding, we should consider even the bills that are not yet due for payment. This seems harsh as we have heavy exports this year and if even exports that are not due for payment are taken into account, we will exceed the 10 per cent limit.

'Outstanding cannot exceed 10% of 3-yr average export realisation'

Micro, small and medium enterprises in the northern region have emerged as a key target for factoring companies, which are eyeing them as potential future growth drivers. With the Lok Sabha also having passed a bill to regulate the factoring business last week, it is expected to offer MSMEs another financing option.

Factoring companies target MSMEs 

Some new duty credits were announced by the commerce minister on 13 October 2011. Are the benefits available on exports made from that date? Please reply, giving references.

'Bonus benefit not available for goods exported from April 2011'

The fastener industry in Chandigarh is staring at negative growth this year. Industrialists cite the firming up of raw material prices and the high cost of working capital as the two major factors why they expect 15-20 per cent negative growth this year.

Chandigarh fastener industry faces negative growth 

The two countries will seek the removal of trade barriers at the secretary-level discussions scheduled this month.

India, Pak chambers seek greater focus on SMEs

They are filling the space left vacant by banks and helping small and medium units procure funds.

Online portals line up to assist SMEs 

We have imported certain materials under Advance Authorisation without duty payment. We have already fulfilled the export obligation. Can we now export goods manufactured from such duty free materials under claim of duty drawback at All Industry Rates under the new notification no.

'Duty drawback can be claimed if export obligation is fulfilled'

The high cost at which credit is made available to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) is the foremost impediment to enhancing their growth and competitiveness in the domestic and global market, and also drives them to sickness.

Costly credit a major cause of SME sickness, says survey

Nokia Tej, an enterprise solution devised by mobile handset maker Nokia that leverages the mobile device to help small and medium enterprises (SMEs) streamline complex and time-consuming business processes and become more competitive, has caught the fancy of SMEs.

SMEs adopt Nokia enterprise solution to enhance efficiency

The unscheduled power cuts on a daily basis, coupled with the State Road Transport Corporation strike for the past four weeks and the ongoing bandh in Andhra Pradesh, are adversely impacting the small units in the state. Some of these are on the verge of turning sick.

Smaller units on the verge of turning sick in Andhra Pradesh

Beedi manufacturers in Tamil Nadu are moving their manufacturing activities to West Bengal due to rising wage costs, labour shortages and central and state government policies. The recent state government decision to enforce value added tax (VAT) on tobacco-related products is also affecting the industry.

Tamil Nadu beedi makers move to West Bengal

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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