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President Speaks

President Speak - May 2008

International Exposure for MSMEs

IIA has seen a flurry of activities since last month what with a 31 member delegation visiting the Canton Fair – an exhibition of world significance – and the First Secretary, High Commission, Trinidad & Tobago visiting IIA Central Office earlier this month.

Canton Fair of China is held on a bi-annual basis. The spring fair sessions are held between Apr. 15 to 20 and April 25 to 30 while autumn fair sessions between October 15 to 19, October 25 to 28, and November 2 to 6 every year. Business people from all over the world from various types of business/ manufacturing industries attend the Canton Fair. They are suppliers, manufacturers, wholesalers, traders buying and selling any kind of products that you can imagine.

Our delegation visited the fair from April 15 to 20- the 103rd session of the series and it was an experience of a life time no doubt, you will read some of our experiences in the following pages.

I just hope that it does not stop here and we are able to take bigger delegations year after year not only to Canton but to other international exhibitions also held in different countries. More important: I also hope that we are able to benefit two-fold from such visits: accomplish some profitable business deals as well as replicate the best industrial practices of each country.

In May 2007, High Commissioner, Republic of Trinidad & Tobago had lead a delegation to IIA and the talks on bilateral business tie-ups turned out to be hugely successful with the result that this year a Trade & Investment Mission to T & T has been planned from June 2 to 7, 2008. The Mission would comprise representatives from diverse sectors of the industry and is expected to be the largest business delegation ever to that country.

As a preparatory step for the Mission, First Secretary, Ms. Urvashi Ramnarine of the High Commission of T&T addressed a seminar organized by IIA on 2nd May and responded to the participants’ and media queries related to the different aspects of the mission.

Back to domestic matters, we have had some fruitful meets with Shri R.K.Mittal, IAS, APC, GoUP & Mr. Dinesh Rai, IAS, Secretary, Ministry of MSME, Govt of India. IIA’s efforts towards the development of MSME sector were appreciated by both the dignitaries.

This issue also contains some important and latest information on Service tax and due dates of filing returns by IIA experts.

IIA’s another venture would be conducting a sensitization programme on Bar Coding for the Small & Micro manufacturing units in collaboration with Ministry of MSME and GSI India. The programme should generate a good response as it is crucial from the view point of global competitiveness of products.