An agreement of co-operation was signed between the China Science and Technology Exchange Centre and the India-China Chamber of Commerce and Industry on November 19 at Techmart India'97, the technology fair which is a part of the India International Trade Fair in Pragati Maidan, New Delhi. The fair, organised by National Small Industries Corporation Limited (NSIC) for promoting technology transfers and joint ventures, has received a good response. In the first five days of the fair, 11,173 domestic enquiries have been made totalling a value of Rs 245.31 crore. Export enquiries worth Rs 5.80 crore have been generated from 14 countries.Domestic products enquired so far include ice-cream cone making machine, automatic power socks knitting machine, pneumatic feeders, power batteries, auto filters, invertors, cables, fans and chapati maker. Export products generating enquiries include pneumatic feeders, industrial control equipment, electric motor and pumps powder coating machines, electric cycles and injection moulding machine.

SME Convention in December

The All India Management Association (Aima), in collaboration with FICCI, is organising a National Convention for Small & Medium Enterprises on December 3 and 4 in the Capital. According to D N Khurana, director general, Aima, the convention will discuss HR strategies for small industry and various issues concerning the small scale sector such as the various financing modes available, technology transfer and building up of linkages between small and big industries.Over 200 delegates from India and abroad are expected to participate in the two-day seminar. According to Khurana, the idea behind the deliberations is to suggest an action plan to the government for development of SMEs in India.

Turkey business bullish on India

Turkey presents excellent business opportunities to Indian small and medium enterprises. According to Turgurt Koyuncuoglu -- leader of a visiting Turkish business delegation, there is a lot of scope for private investment, joint ventures and turnkey projects between both the countries. After the recent exclusion of Turkey from the European Union, its interest in Asian giants like India and China has increased. The recent cut in the import duties on capital goods has increased the potential for exports of engineering goods, particularly for textile and agricultural machinery. "The rapidly modernising Turkish public sector has created excellent prospects for Indian software companies to tap. The automobile and auto parts sectors are another fast growing field," said Koyuncuoglu.

Opposition to service charge

The Federation of Association of Small Industries of India (Fassii) has opposed the recent government decision to charge 5 per cent service tax on transport of goods through roads. According to V P Chopra, president, Fassii, "The tax would shoot-up the cost of products in the SSI sector which is already badly hit by the prevailing recession."

He demanded that the service provider should be made responsible for the collection of service tax and not industry or trade. According to Fassii, SSIs are already over-burdened with taxes, apart from meeting numerous documentation such as sales, income, customs, central excise, the Factories Act and environmental clearances.

Gurgaon Chamber meet on excise

The Gurgaon Chamber of Commerce and Industry is organising an interface with A M Prasad, member, Board of Central Excise and Customs Duty, on November 21, at Gurgaon. The agenda for the discussion includes issues relating to service tax, Modvat rules, procedures and deposit of central excise, tariff and other issues confronting industry. Prasad will be accompanied by chief commissioner M K Zutsee.

Sri Lanka scouting for Indian tech

A group of Sri Lankan businessmen are in the Capital, in association with Techmart, which is being held in here, along with the India International Trade Fair. According to Lalith Liyanage, president, Sabaragamuga Chamber of Commerce & Industry, India presents ample opportunities to Sri Lankan businessmen for source technology, especially for the small scale industry. "The Sri Lankan government is very keen to develop the small and medium industry sector." Says Liyanage: "Sri Lanka is looking for technology in the manufacturing sector, especially in the field of tea, rubber, packaging, textile, herbal technology and electronics."

Agro-business could be a thrust area for Indian businessmen to invest in Sri Lanka, said Liyanage.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.