The growing importance of Small and Medium
Enterprises in the economy as a whole and External Trade in
particular has prompted IIFT to establish a separate center for
SME studies which can act as a catalyst to the
internationalsiation of SME activities. The center has become
operational from May, 2005. The Centre for SME Studies at IIFT
provides continuous support to the SME sector by carrying out
activities which can be broadly classified into conducting
Training Programmes, provision of Business Intelligence services
through a Databank and acting as a catalyst for Interfacing with
other concerned and associated institutions.
There are various support and service institutions which are
already working towards the promotion and development of the SME
sector. As far as India is concerned, all such agencies are
working for the SSI Sector. The Ministry of SSI has a tremendous
challenge for the development of this sector which it is
executing through the host of autonomous bodies and other
Institutions. However, IIFT is approaching this challenge in the
context of the IIFT’s more than four decades of experience in
International business education, training and research. The
model envisaged for the SME Centre reinforces IIFT’s basic
philosophy of integrating research and training for the benefit
of the SMEs with a special focus on Internationalisation of SMEs.
This will be complementary to the current activities of other
Institutions in this regard. The center plays a pivot role of
knowledge partner in all its activities to provide and
disseminate the latest developments affecting the sector.
