Uganda seeks India's help to promote MSMEs

Ms. Amelia Kyambadde meeting the Virbhadra Singh, in New Delhi on March 20, 2012.

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SME Times News Bureau | 21 Mar, 2012
African nation Uganda Tuesday sought India's cooperation to promote its micro, small and medium enterprise (MSME) sector.

A delegation from Uganda led by Uganda's Minister of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives Ms. Amelia called on India's MSME minister Virbhadra Singh in New Delhi and said that Uganda is looking forward to learn from India’s experience.

India is having rich experience in developing a robust institutional and policy framework in the MSME sector, Kyambadde said, and sought help for strengthening the Directorate of MSME in capacity building, creating an inventory of MSME, connecting all the base stations of Directorate all over the country through IT network.

The minister also asked for help in upgrading the Directorate, establishing linkages with Chamber of Commerce and Industries, Facilitating the MSMEs in the purchase of equipments through loans/grants/line of credit etc., Improve the marketing/ branding / packaging of the products of MSMEs.

India's Secretary (MSME), while responding to the issues raised by the Ugandan Minister, stated that Ugaanda should customize the institutional and policy framework to suit their local needs rather than replicating the Indian experience in its totality.

He then stated that India has signed MoU with several African countries for cooperation in the field of MSME sector and this has been a tested and proven method for furthering cooperation.

The MoU would provide a platform to Indian and Ugandan officials to engage in detailed deliberations at specific issues. India and Uganda could explore the possibilities of entering into a MoU in consultation with their respective foreign ministries, he said.