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Bengaluru March 21, 2016: Organised by Laghu Udyog Bharati (LUB), an RSS inspired organisation in the field of small scale industries, A two-day state level conference and B2B meet of women entrepreneurs are being held to mark the inauguration of t he Women Entrepreneur Cell by Smt Nirmal Sitaraman, Hon Minster for Industry & Commerce, GoI on 15-March-2016. Over 1,000 women entrepreneurs from across the state are participating in the conference and B2B meet to be held on 18-19 March, 2016. The event is being held in Nimhans Convention Centre, Hosur Road, Bengaluru.
The theme of the conference is Women Entrepreneurship and Empowering Women in the Path of Inclusive Growth and Development. The main objective of the Women’s Conference is to synergise the opportunities for women entrepreneurs and to facilitate an effective socio-economic development. The Conference focuses on sectors such as Engineering, IT, Food Processing, Textiles and Handicrafts.
The B2B meet, with a focus on food processing, textiles and handicraft sectors, will provide an opportunity for women entrepreneurs to directly interact with potential buyers from government departments, corporate buying agencies, outlet owners, distributors and wholesalers. In turn, the corporate houses too can exploit the opportunity to source products directly from women entrepreneurs.
Government taking steps to boost MSMEs: Nirmala Sitharaman
Smt, Nirmala Sitharaman, Minister of State for Commerce and Industry (Independent charge), Government of India, inaugurated the Women Entrepreneur Cell of Laghu Udyoga Bharati – Karnataka. The Women Entrepreneur Cell was launched in keeping with various initiatives of our Hon’ble Prime Minister Sri Narendra Modi ji. The cell aims to encourage women to increase their participation in and contribution to the overall development of India.
On the Occasion, Smt Nirmala Sitharaman said: “Small and medium enterprises in India, as elsewhere across the world, form the backbone of the economy. They provide the backbone to the growth engine. It is therefore very important to strengthen SMEs by providing financial assistance and support.” She called upon Indian banks to understand the needs of Small and Medium Enterprises. “Our banks lack understanding of SMEs. As a result, their financial products are not tailored to suit the specilized and unique requirements of SMEs. Banks must provide specialized services to SMEs and stop linking with numbers. Banks should also ensure that appropriate assistance to SMEs is available in its branches at the district level.” She pointed out that in states such as Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal are home to a large number of women-driven SMEs and banks in these regions should make special allowances and products to encourage women entrepreneurs to grow.”
She acknowledged the role of non-governmental agencies, Laghu Udyog Bharati in particular, in facilitating the growth of SMEs. “We invite Laghu Udyog Bharati to represent problems and issues faced by SMEs, provided their delegation consists of at least two WOMEN members,” she said in a lighter vain and went on to urge women entrepreneurs to approach the government to be a part of business delegation to other countries. “Not a single woman has approached us to be a part of foreign delegations. This is indeed very very disappointing,” she rued.
Smt Sitharaman, in her inspiring and provocative address, asked the entrepreneurs to approach the government directly for sectoral and financial problems. “The Startup India initiative brought to light that only 8 percent of startups are driven by women. And a presentation of Laghu Udyog Bharati says only 6 percent of SME entrepreneurs in India are women. This is indeed very disappointing. We need to change this and change it fast. The problems specific to sectors in which SMEs operate should be identified, understood and addressed immediately.”
“Nation needs more empowerment of women so they can be self reliant and secure. The event gives an opportunity for women entrepreneurs to make best use of Central Government Schemes such as Digital India, Make in India, and Startup India. Laghu Udyog Bharati Karnataka has taken the right step in the right direction,” she said.
Other dignitaries present on the occasion were: Sri Surendranath Tripathi, addl secretary and development commissioner – Dept of MSME, Govt of India; Smt Rajni Mishra, chief general manager, State Bank of India; Dr Vidya M Murkumbi, co-founder and executive chairperson of Shree Renuka Sugars Ltd, Om Prakash Mittal, National President LUB, Sri Namashivaya Vedantham, senior partner, Deloitte.
Rajni Mishra, Chief General Manager of State Bank of India, lauded the efforts of Laghu Udyog Bharati in setting up the Women Entrepreneur Cell: “The setting up of the cell is in itself cognizance of a force to reckon with. In response the Startup India initiative of our Prime Minister Sri Narendra Modi ji, State Bank of India has set up INQube to address the needs of start ups. In response to the financial and advisory needs of startups, SBI has already provided to such services to around 3000 self help groups in Karnataka. We have also financed over 4000 entrepreneurs under the Mudra scheme.”
Sri Surendranath Tripathi, additional secretary and development commissioner (MSME), said: “With a view to hasten the process of registration and other procedures, we are simplifying procedures through digitizing. Over three lakh entrepreneurs have registered digitally since September 2015. The registration form is simple and is just one page long and can be submitted online.” He also recognized the role of Laghu Udyog Bharati in driving his department to act fast. He said measures are taken after incorporating the suggestions made by LUB to rehabilitate or close a sick unit.
Sri Om Prakash Mittal, National President, LUB, stressed on the role of LUB in bringing about policy changes at the national as well as state level. He lauded the efforts of LUB – Karnataka in setting up the Women’s Entrepreneur Cell. He said, the initiative will create an encouraging and healthy atmosphere while offering women entrepreneurs an exclusive platform to grow their business.
Mr. K.S. Sharma, President, Laghu Udyog Bharati Karnataka speaking at the conference today said “MSMEs will continue to play a very important and vital role in our economy where the twin problems of unemployment and poverty constitute a major development challenge. There are several challenges in the sector of MSMEs. If the Government, Bank and Financial Institutions will take proper initiatives in the sector of MSME and they will take pride while servicing the MSMEs, these challenges can be solved and the economic growth rate of India will be 8- 10 percent for the next decades.” He requested Hon Minister to consider the three points.
A). Micro & Small to get finance at interest of 7% pa.
B). 25% of all Government Industrial lands to be reserved for MSME and 10% for Women Entrepreneurs.
C). All the Technologies by Government of India to be made available to Micro & Small at nominal cost.
Smt Priya Puranik, Secretary, LUB – Karnataka delivered the key note address and
Smt. Hema Rajesh of Women Entreprueners Cell, Laghu Udyog Bharati – proposed vote of thanks.
AWARDS TO WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS
Outstanding women entrepreneurs from across the state were honoured with awards.
- Start up Woman Entrepreneur of the Year: Start-up entrepreneur: VAndana Suri, Founder-TaxSHE.
- Woman Entrepreneur of the Year – MSME Sector: Chaya Nanjappa, Nectar Fresh Products
- Excellence in Rural Woman Entrepreneurship: Smt Sunitha Diwate of Renuka Textiles.
Highlights of the conference
- Participation of 1000+ women entrepreneurs and women associations across the state
- Eminent speakers and experts from Governments and the private sector
- Expansion of business through B2B network
- Business matching facilities for all pre-registered delegates at the venue
- Showcasing the product manufactured by women entrepreneurs from across the state.
- Procurement heads of Big Corporates Connected with Women Entrepreneurs from different parts of Karnataka.
Session 1:
Emerging Business Opportunities for Micro and Small Enterprises and Startups.
The speakers included
Prof Rama Rajashekharan, Director CFTRI.
He spoke on the topic “Implementing technologies acquired from Govt Of India R & D Labs”
Speaker Mrs Binisha Executive Director International Institute Of Waste Management, spoke about various business opportunities for Women Enterpruners by Recycling waste products including cloth, plastics etc.
Mrs Suma Raju, Asst Director, MSME DI, Govt Of India, shared the schemes for Women Entrepruners and awareness on the Industrial policy 2014-19.
Mr Nagaraj, AGM SME, State Bank Of India, shared his views on assistance and facilties available for Startup companies. First Startup branch of SBI is opened in Bangalore.
Session 2:
Speakers:
Prof Parameshwar P Iyer, Principal research Scientists, HoD IISc enlightened on the topic how Women can improvise their marketing skills for tapping Larger market.
Dr HP Pushpalath, Group Leader, Formulation development, Himalaya Drug Company, Bangalore, spoke on how quality control plays a vital role in scaling up a business.
Mr. Swati Iyengar, CEO Alpha Lambda Industries, spoke on opportunities for Indian Entrepruners in Hongkon.
Mr Gopa Kumar Menon, Sr General Manager and Business Head, Consumer Products Division, Gujrat Heavy Chemicals Private Limited, spoke on the topic “Empowering Micro and Small Enterprises to achieve Global Competence in Manufacturing & Marketing”
Mr Srinivasan, Regional Head, Retailoperations, Reliance Retail Limited Covered Topic “Opportunities to be Tapped by Women Enterpruners in teh growing Retail Scenario.”
The focus of the second session was on ‘Empowering Micro and Small Enterprises to achieve Global Competence in Manufacturing and Marketing to highlight the achievements of a few successful predecessors who have delivered innovation and disruptive ideas in the form either business or social enterprise. Some of the examples given were Next Drop of Anu Sridharan, UnBox Design of Pooja Sood. Nandini Vaidyanathan who has created Entrepedia was also quoted. Sri Parameswaran Iyer from IISc offered voluntary services of extending guidelines to those who ‘dream’ of creating an enterprise.
Some important sessions covered were:
Session 3:
The concluding session was driven aptly by a team of experts in exports, who guided the audience about the various platforms available to consolidate, promote and extend support to aspiring entrepreneurs. Some key presentations were from Mr John Kottayil, Executive Director of Bavarian Trade Commission who highlighted expectation of the European Markets and Mr. J Jaikumar of Federation of Indian Exports Organisation and Ms Swaroopa of Vishweshwaraih Trade Promotion Council of Govt of Karnataka Ms Srikala Kadidal of ECPH spoke on Handicrafts.
ABOUT LAGHU UDYOGA BHARATI
Laghu Udyoga Bharatiis a Pan India Organisation with the aim of empowering Micro & Small Industries in the Country since 1994. It is today one of the largest industry networks with branches in every state of India, operating in 400 districts of the country.
LUB endeavors to bring together like-minded industrialists and entrepreneurs to create a strong and progressive Organisation that provides solutions to entrepreneurs with a national spirit across the country.It also helps aspiring entrepreneurs to achieve their full potential through training programs to impart new management techniques, technology know-how as well as to transfer technology.
Laghu Udyog Bharati –Karnataka
Laghu Udyog Bharati – Karnataka (LUB-Karnataka), a chapter of LUB, caters to MSMEs across the state. The Organisation works towards:
- Entrepreneurship development
- Skill development
- Industrial visits
- Interaction with successful entrepreneurs of the sector
- Participation in Trade Fairs
- Organising international-level exhibitions
- Organising delegations to various countries
AIM
The organisation aims at providing required facilities for the growth and development of MSMEs. It is a forum to exchange new ideas, best practices and collectively tackle problems facing both the industry as a whole and an enterprise in particular.
ACHIEVEMENTS
- The only all India organisation to assist and promote Micro and Small Industries
- Representation in the International Labour 0rganisation, Geneva,Switzerland
- Representation in various Committees in Ministry of Labour, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Industries etc.
- Enlisted to MSME Board, Ministry of Industry, Govt. of India
- Representation with the Minister of Finance at Pre-budget discussion
- A member of National Productivity Council (NPC)
- Hosts biennialInternational Manufacturing Show(IMS) with special focus on Aerospace, Automotive and Energy sectors
- Efforts to enableonline registration of Industries with KSPCB.
PURPOSE
- To create astrong, progressive organisation which upholds national interest while providing solutions to small scale entrepreneurs
- Toprovide a sense of national character and a spirit of patriotism among entrepreneurs
- To guide new entrepreneurs and assist them in addressing teething troubles
- To emphasize the importance of quality and increased productivity keeping in focus the interest of consumers
- To educate and create awareness of new management techniques, technological advances and assist in technology transfer
- Toadequately represent MSME sectorand take up its cause at local, state as well as central level government and find solutions.
ABOUT THE CONFERENCE
The main objective of the Women’s Conference is to synergise the opportune ties for women entrepreneurs to facilitate an effective socio-economic development. The Conference focuses on sectors such as Engineering, IT, Food Processing, Textiles and Handicrafts. The technical sessions with eminent speakers from key industries are planned to give women entrepreneurs a rare insight into various industries. The Conference provides a platform for entrepreneurs to meet potential buyers from PSUs, large corporates, distributors and wholesalers among others.
Awards Constituted for Successful Women Entrepreneur
- Start up Woman Entrepreneur of the Year
- Woman Entrepreneur of the Year – MSME Sector
- Excellence in Rural Woman Entrepreneurship
