Speaking at the inaugural session of `Linkage'98', an exhibition-cum-seminar here to forge ties between small, medium and large industry, Kirloskar said SSIs have to adopt modern technology to fit themselves to compete globally.

Referring to various initiatives taken by CII in mitigating the problems faced by SSIs, he said the CII has taken up in national level the issues concerning credit finance to SSI, export, market and reservation.

In the state level, matters regarding administrative reforms including abolition of inspector raj were also taken up, he said. Inaugurating the function, Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu said the new small-scale industrial policy of the state would be announced on November 1.