Exports from Indian micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) is estimated to have reached a record level of US $ 50 billion during 2006-07, amounting to 40 % of India's total merchandise exports.
There are 12.5 million MSMEs in India, providing employment to 30 million people, and contributing around 50 % of the country's industrial production.
The major MSME export products include ready made garments, chemicals and pharmaceuticals, engineering goods, processed foods, leather products, and marine products.
Small scale industries in the country have consistently maintained a growth rate higher by about 1.5 to 2 than the overall industrial growth rate.
The availability of policy and development support has enabled the rapid development of MSMEs in India. This was has been indicated in a presentation on MSMEs – The Indian Scenario, by Shri Jawhar Sircar, Additional Secretary and Development Commissioner, Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, at the recent International Conference on India-Africa Cooperation in Industry, Trade and Investment, which was organized by the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) in cooperation with the Government of India under the banner of the UNIDO Centre for South-South Industrial Cooperation established earlier this year.
Changes in policy and support have been effected in tune with the emerging needs of globalization to enable SSIs to maintain and improve their competitive edge by ensuring WTO compatibility; availability of finance; technology upgradation; and skill development.
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