A course to produce visionary SMEs

IIM Calcutta, the CII and ICICI Bank are involved in developing the programme.

To create market leaders out of small and medium enterprises (SMEs), the Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta (IIM-C), along with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and ICICI Bank, is in the process of developing the 'Visionary SMEs Programme' (VSME). The programme is targeted at skill-development among SME personnel.

This will be the fourth in the series of 'Visionary Leaders for Manufacturing Programme' developed by the National Manufacturing Competitiveness Council (NMCC), in collaboration with the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD), the government of Japan, various Indian Institute of Technology (IITs), IIMs and the CII.

The other three programmes for managers, executives and chief executive officers in the manufacturing sectors are in various stages of planning and implementation.

The VSME programme is most likely to begin by April next year. It targets SMEs which have the potential of becoming future 'Sonys' or 'Toyotas' in terms of an excellent research and development base. These should be able to reach world-class levels with inputs through this programme.

"These SMEs should then be able to create world-class brands in certain products and increase their market share globally," said Sarita Nagpal, principal counsellor and head, manufacturing services, CII.

The programme aims to create seven exemplary firms through this programme by 2010. "These could then act as the engine of SME growth in the country" Nagpal added.

The Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) will send its experts in supply chain and design and innovation to the workshops and explore business opportunities for these SMEs. A visit of the participants in the programme to Japan is one of the modules of the programme.

Once the plan starts, the CII as the industry partner will use its cluster development programme to scale up the programme. The successful SMEs from the earlier batches will also become trainers for subsequent programmes.

"We are in the process of finalising the cost of the programme and are looking at funding from both government and financial institutions like ICICI," said Bodhibrata Nag, professor, IIM Calcutta.