SME Times News Bureau | 18 Mar, 2021
The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export
Development Authority (APEDA) yesterday on 17-03-2021 signed memorandum of
understanding (MoU) with National Small Industries Corporation Ltd (NSIC) for
ensuring cooperation in range of areas focussing on harnessing exports
potential of agricultural and processed food products manufactured by Micro,
Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
According to the MoU, the key areas of cooperation
include facilitating APEDA registered members getting assistance under all the
NSCI schemes.
The MoU also envisages ensuring sustainability and growth
of MSMEs by addressing issues such as technology, skill, quality products and
market access.
The collaborations between APEDA, which functions
under Ministry of Commerce and NSIC, which operates under Ministry of Micro
Small & Medium Enterprise, also support promotion of green &
sustainable manufacturing technology for the MSME clusters so as to enable
units to switch to sustainable and green production processes and products.
APEDA and NSIC will also facilitate participation
of MSMEs in fairs of international level including B2B & B2C fairs to be
organized in India and abroad and also to mutually cooperate in international
business development & promotions.
The MoU also entails providing assistance available
under schemes of Government of India towards capacity building of MSME
enterprises for their social & environmental compliances and skilling as
per international standards. Both the organisations would organize awareness
programs about schemes of MSME Ministry, and schemes implemented by NSIC.
APEDA and NSIC have also agreed to facilitate
providing of assistance available under schemes of Government of India towards
capacity building of MSME enterprises for their social & environmental
compliances and skilling as per international standards.
The MoU was signed by Sudhanshu, Secretary
APEDA and P Udayakumar, Director (P&M), NSIC. The MoU was signed for utilising both the
organisations’ expertise by mutually working together
to synergize the activities in the interest of agriculture and allied sectors
for bringing better value to the stakeholders.
APEDA has been engaged with State Governments for
the implementation of AEP. The States of Maharashtra, U.P., Kerala, Nagaland,
Tamil Nadu, Assam, Punjab, Karnataka, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh,
Telangana, Manipur, Sikkim, Uttarakhand and M.P. have finalized the State
specific Action Plan for exports while the action plans of other States are at
different stages of finalization.