Heterogeneous clusters to be set up in Nashik

The proposed heterogeneous cluster, promoted by Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Nashik Zonal Council, would come up shortly at Nashik industrial estates. The proposal, backed by 10 companies, has been sent to Small Industries Development Bank of India (Sidbi) for approval.

With an aim to globalise and standardise manufacturing with minimum production cost, to make businesses globally competetive, the concept of industrial cluster has struck roots in Nashik.

Nashik Zonal Council of CII, which is playing a major role to promote industries in the region, has taken initiative to form clusters of small scale industries (SSIs) in the region.

"The main idea behind the cluster is to make small scale industrialists to learn, share their knowledge and improve the standard of their companies. CII will assign a principal counsellor, who will guide participant companies how to improve the quality of their products and reduce production cost. He will give them homework and make them work available. For that, CII will charge Rs 1.80 lakh per annum," said A K Agarwal, Chairman, CII, Nashik Zonal Concil and president of Perfect Circle India Ltd, Nashik.

"The competitiveness of the products of SSI units in the domestic and international markets is dependent to large extent on their productivity levels, price factors and quality characteristics. Considering this fact, Nashik Zonal Concil of CII is forming "heterogeneous cluster" of 10 SSI units in Nashik industrial estates. Five SSI units have confirmed their participation so far and we are looking for the rest," he said

"The proposal for heterogeneous cluster has been sent to Sidbi, which has agreed to provide financial assistance, but only after 10 members of the proposed cluster are confirmed. Sidbi will give the grant amounting to Rs 50 lakh to Rs 60 lakh to each member of the cluster. The turnover of one SSI unit of cluster will be from Rs 5 crore to Rs 50 crore," Agarwal added.

"Five large industries are supporting this proposed heterogeneous cluster. The qualitative components they required are brought from outside. These large industries will get the components they needed available at local level with the same quality and at minimum prices that will save their time and extra expenditure on transportation," he added.

"With the aim to boost small & medium enterprises in the region, CII, Nashik Zonal Council, has been organising different programmes. Recently, we had organised buyers-sellers meet and programme on low cost automation, which had received enthusiastic response from industrialists," he said.

Mumbai-Pune-Nashik golden triangle is developing rapidly and Mahindra & Mahindra's proposed Logan car plant worth Rs 550 crore is getting operational at Nashik in the first half of 2007.

Two large industries are also reportedly planning to commence operations in Nashik. With industries already setting up shop, the future of such clusters seems bright.