Question : AGREEMENT ON DEVELOPMENT OF SMALL INDUSTRIES

(a) whether the National Small Industries Corporation and the Government of Malawi has signed any agreement for the development of small scale industries in both the countries; and

(b) if so, the details thereof?

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR MICRO,SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES (SHRI DINSHA PATEL)

a) & b): Yes, Sir. National Small Industries Corporation Ltd. (NSIC), a public sector enterprise under the administrative control of this Ministry, has signed an agreement with One Village One Product (OVOP) Board of Malawi, an organisation of Government of Malawi for the development of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) of the two countries. Based on this agreement, NSIC would assist OVOP in the development of small enterprises in Malawi on mutually agreed commercial terms. The details of the activities to be undertaken are as under:-

i) Carry out industrial potential survey and feasibility study for the development of small enterprises in Malawi;

ii) Carry out entrepreneurship development programmes and incubators for capacity building of Malawian entrepreneurs;

iii) Facilitate enterprise-to-enterprise contact, technology transfer to Malawian enterprises and the promotion of Indian technology;

iv) Exchange of business delegations between the two countries for sustainable bilateral trade and commercial relations; and

v) Participate in each other’s trade fairs, etc.