Top chambers expand their base, roles

Reforms in the Indian economy have brought about a change in the nature, role and functioning of industry chambers and their membership, both in terms of composition and numbers.

Of the industry chambers, the three main ones""the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (Ficci) and the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (Assocham)""have registered significant increases in membership from the manufacturing sector over the last three financial years.

Apart from the manufacturing sector, the CII has got members from the services sector. Besides, a considerable number of institutions and associations have taken membership in the chamber.

The new members include Reliance International, Jaipur; Moolchand Medicity, New Delhi; SME Business Services, Mohali; the Narsee Monjee Institute of Management and Higher Studies, Mumbai; and industrial training institutes.

Ficci has new members from consultancy services firms and engineering goods firms, but the manufacturing sector predominates. During the last financial year, Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd, Mumbai; Hutchison-Essar Ltd, Mumbai; and Thomas Cook (India) Ltd, Mumbai, among others, became members of Ficci.

For Assocham, new members are mostly firms in sectors such as power, non-conventional sources of energy, petroleum refining, pharma, steel, capital goods, among others. The Indian Steel Alliance, the World BPO Forum and TEMA Consultants are its members.

From April 2006 to March 2007, the CII's membership increased by 827, taking the strength close to 7,000. Increase in the membership of the CII in 2005-06 had been 904 and that in 2004-05 802.

SMEs and institutions, apart from large enterprises that have been its existing members, have been predominant in the CII over the last three financial years.

Similarly, Ficci in the last financial year saw an increase of 189 members, making the number of corporate members 70, associate members 1,670, and member bodies 375.

Of the 610 new associate members of Ficci, 370 are large enterprises and 240 are small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

Assocham comprises large, medium-sized and lower medium-sized companies. The chamber in 2006-07 increased its membership by 600, taking the current figure to 1,500.

In the changing context of globalisation, the chambers have gone beyond their usual role of lobbying. They are incorporating programmes for the development of human resources, besides social activities.

While the CII is focusing on skill development programmes, sustainable development, developing centres for green businesses, improving the competitiveness of companies through innovation, and developing awareness of climate change, Assocham is focusing on integrated economies and knowledge-based industries.

Ficci is working on a model of social transformation in health, education and water resources. It is focusing on new knowledge-based industries such as drug discovery and pharma, and agro-biotechnology, among others.