Cluster Development and Training programme for IAs
An exposure visit was organized by Foundation of MSME Cluster (FMC), New Delhi for Cluster Development Training Programme for Implementing Agencies for implementing the project “Promoting Integrated Bamboo Based Enterprise Development among SAARC Countries” from 2nd July 2018 to 6th July 2018. This event was attended by delegates from 5 SAARC countries, namely, India, Bhutan, Nepal, Bangladesh and Afghanistan, and CEMCA was invited to attend and observe as well.
The first two days of the event comprised of a field visit to Kudal in the Sindhudurg district of Maharashtra to visit the bamboo cluster present there and meet the experts of KONBAC(Konkan Bamboo and Cane Development Centre), see the Common Facility Centre, Bamboo Plantation, interact with artisans and MSMEs, Business Development Service Providers (BDSPs) and other key stakeholders.Ms. Anupriya Khare, project Associate, CEMCA, went for this visit to observe, record and network with the experts and artisans in Kudal, Maharashtra.
The third day of the event was a classroom training session, held at Einstein Hall, USO House, New Delhi. This was attended by Ms. Sanjogita Mishra, Programme officer, CEMCA and Ms. Anupriya Khare, Project Associate, CEMCA. The first session was taken was Mr. Mukesh Gulati, Advisor, FMC, on Introduction to Cluster Development Concept and the Bamboo Project.He also showed a movie on cluster development programme followed by a discussion. Post the tea break, he Mr. Gulati conducted a session on Global Presence of Clusters and best practices, where he gave examples of successful global clusters and the need for bamboo clusters in the present scenario.The next session that was held after a lunch break was conducted by Ms. Sangeeta Agasty, project Manager, FMC, on Situational Analysis and Resource Mapping. She explained the basics of SARM, which needs to be conducted to understand the local context, interest of stakeholders and create a need-based plan, to help with the diagnosis of the problem of the cluster and finding specific solutions for them. She also stressed on how it should be undertaken at regular intervals, as it needs constant upgradation.The final session for the day was conducted by Mr. ASK Sharma, General Manager, FMC, on Business Plan. Mr Sharma discussed howa business plan is prepared for the establishment of common facilities, but for a social enterprise, it is entirely different, and therefore needs its own special attention. To achieve many goals, one plan needs to be developed that works towards achieving all the necessary visions of the cluster.
The fourth day of the exposure visit was a Policy and Institutional Networking Event on Bamboo Enterprise Development Protential in SAARC Region, held at Day Jaypee vasant continental, Vasant Vihar, New Delhi. This event was attended by Ms. Sanjogita Mishra, Programme officer, CEMCA and Ms. Anupriya Khare, Project Associate, CEMCA. Once Mr. Arun Maira, Chairman, FMC to give the welcome address by introducing the speakers, and giving a description of the discussions to follow, the first address was given by Ms Sarojini Kaul, EU Delegation to India where she discussed how EU is engaged with many SAARC countries. Many Asian countries have not been keeping sustainability in mind and European Union’s development agenda is to change that, for which EU is engaged not only with India, but with many SAARC countries as well. She discussed how Switch Asia I was a very successful endeavour, and the aim of Switch Asia II is to promote sustainability through the creation of better policies, networking and linking projects between countries, and the development of SME’s.
The next address was by Dr Rene Van Berkel, UNIDO Representative, Regional office, India. He discussed the cluster development approach that has been adopted up until this point, the past focuses on UNIDO, how we can create inclusive value change and sustainable communities. This was followed by an address by Mr D N Magar, Chief General Manager, NABARD, who discussed the importance of promoting integrated bamboo-based industries to increase livelihoods and the role of NABARD in making and refining policies to ensure that the benefits reach the ground levels.The next address was by Dr Sunil Motiwal, CEO, SDF, who talked about SAARC Development Fund, its focuses and his hope for the future and this project. This was followed by an inaugural address by Mr Ram Mishra, Additional Secretary and Development Commissioner, Ministry of MSME, GOI, who discussed how markets are crucial and there is a need to build an ecosystem where social enterprises have an important role to play, as it is SEs that push people who are poor into having faith in themselves and moving out of the orbit of poverty. His address was followed by a vote of thanks by Dr Tamal Sarkar, Executive Director, FMC. He thanked everyone for gracing the occasion and ended the first part of the day which was followed by tea.
The next session was conducted by Dr B.N. Mohanty, Director, IPIRTI on Scope of Bamboo based enterprises in SAARC Countries. He looked at the types of bamboo applications and related enterprises in the SAARC region, along with the scope of cross border market development. This discussion was followed by a question and answer session.The next session was taken by Mr Mukesh Gulati, Executive Trustee and Advisor, FMC on Social Enterprise (SE) Models to address cluster problems and challenges. Mr Gulati looked at how for-profit organisations are becoming social enterprises because of their need to be socially conscious. NGOs are becoming a part of the value-added chain in order to promote businesses properly. When all this comes together, it gives rise to a social enterprise. This session was followed by a two-hour networking lunch, after which there was an internal meeting between all the participating countries, FMC and SDF.
The final day of the event was focused on technical sessions.This was attended by Ms. Sanjogita Mishra, Programme officer, CEMCA and Ms. Anupriya Khare, Project Associate, CEMCA. The first 15 minutes were spent recapitulating the last two days and the learnings of those days, which was moderated by Ms Sangeeta Agasty. On this day, technical sessions were conducted byMs Neelam Manjunath, Centre for Green Building Material & Technology(Bamboo Housing and Construction Materials);Ms. Rebecca Reubens, Rhizome(Sustainable Product Design);Mr. Sandeep Thang, IFGE, on (Bamboo Furniture, Lifestyle and Crafts); Dr. N. Barathi, Director, Growmore Biotech Ltd.(Bamboo Plantation and Pre-Processing Technology for Bamboo Products);and Mr. NripalAdhikary, ABARI, (Engineered Bamboo and its Applications).
The day was finally wrapped up with concluding remarks by Dr Tamal Sarkar and Ms Sangeeta Agasty, FMC, and distribution of certificates and a small discussion of the way forward for the implementing agencies.
