Small UK manufacturers given help to crack Indian market

10/10/2006

Small manufacturing firms in the West Midlands are being offered help and funding to forge links with Indian firms, through a new partnership announced today.

The initiative is backed by the Indian Government and could open up a major new market for the region’s businesses.

The Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG) at the University of Warwick has partnered with the Government of India Ministry of Small Scale Industries in an attempt to create a strong commercial network between small firms in the two countries.

It is hoped that the partnership will allow India’s booming enterprise culture access to markets in the UK, while allowing UK manufacturers to export their technological and operational expertise to Indian firms.

In particular, WMG identified online systems and services as areas of strong commercial potential. ‘India is a very large country and new technology has huge potential in enabling small firms to collaborate to win orders,’ explained project leader, Dr Jay Bal of WMG.

Through its association with the Export Import Bank of India, the initiative could also provide venture capital funding for companies looking to take advantage of opportunities in India.

The partnership was launched on a recent visit to WMG by Mr Anupam Dasgupta, Secretary to the Government of India Ministry of Small Scale Industries and Mr Samuel Joseph of the EXIM Bank.