Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) often stay away from investing in technology due to the fear of high investments, and thus something that can give them a competitive advantage turns into the last priority. In an interactive panel discussion, panelists at the Surge conference in Pune discussed …
Currency Ban Impact | Online Vendors Association writes to FinMin over revenue loss
India’s leading online sellers said the demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes has badly hit their business with total orders down by almost 80 per cent. All India Online Vendors Association (AIOVA), a group of 1,500 online sellers, said the country’s e-commerce industry is depen…
Govt to review new Textile Policy
The government will soon convene a meeting to seek states’ views and inputs on the new National Textile Policy. The policy aims to achieve $300 billion textile exports by 2024-25 and create an additional 35 million jobs. “The Textile Ministry will organise a special meeting with states to seek th…
Currency Ban Impact | Wages of jute & tea workers affected, says industries
Two traditional eastern region industries — jute and tea — are facing problems over the demonetisation move of the Centre, which they say is impacting wage disbursals. They have appealed to the RBI and the state governments, seeking their intervention in the matter. The two sectors taken together…
Banks willing to take on SME risk
Even as small businesses across the country go through a bad patch, lenders are willing to take on the risk and give them the support they need, said experts at an interactive panel discussion at the Surge SME Conclave. “The banking industry has exposure of ₹10 lakh crore in the MSME sector and N…
Govt may consider separate banking windows for labour-intensive units
As bank branches across the country struggle to meet the surging demand for cash, the government is looking at options that include opening a separate banking window for labour-intensive industrial units in sectors such as textiles and construction to enable them easier access to cash to make wor…
London woos Indian start-ups; key to growth, jobs post Brexit
London’s technology sector is wooing Indian startups and software firms, which are among the key drivers of growth and jobs for the capital city and the wider UK economy. “India is the second largest investor into London, after the US… Despite concerns over foreign investment in…
Khadi to go global; deals inked with Raymond & Peter England
‘Khadi India’ has tied up with global cloth majors Raymond and Peter England to hawk garments made out of Khadi in the international market. This is just one of the many innovative decisions taken by the Khadi & Village Industries Commission (KVIC), as part of its brand promotion and series o…
How edtech start-ups are helping teachers perform better
Raji Sarath has been teaching English on e-learning platform Vedantu for just over six months. In these six months, the Kerala-based teacher has taught students not just in India, but also from countries like the UK, Canada and the UAE. The experience has been a learning curve for Sarath as well,…
Modi calls for greater participation for Japanese industries; MSMEs to benefit
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on November 12 called for greater participation and engagement of Japanese industries, saying it will benefit Japan and India’s Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) sector for which it could prove “transformational”. Modi recalled his association with Hyogo Pref…