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Kamal
Nath Calls for Higher
Indo-Swiss SME Interaction
India's Minister of Commerce and
Industry Kamal Nath has called for
increased levels of engagement between
small and medium enterprises (SMEs)
which will provide a solid foundation
for enhancing bilateral economic
flows.
During the recent bilateral meeting
with Ms. Doris Leuthard, Swiss Federal
Councillor and Head of the Department
of the Economic Affairs, in New
Delhi recently, Kamal Nath said
that the business delegations coming
from Switzerland should emphasise
on presence of SMEs and specific
events for match making between
SMEs could be planned by industry
associations.
The meeting was attended by Ajay
Shankar, Secretary (DIPP); G.K.
Pillai, Commerce Secretary; senior
officials and business delegations
from both sides.
During the discussions, Kamal Nath
informed Ms. Leuthard that Switzerland
is an important trading partner
for India outside the European Union
(EU), and added that Swiss companies
have made investments in India in
diverse areas such as engineering
goods, textiles machinery, medical
equipment, financial services etc.
He highlighted India's emergence
as a strong player in the market
for export of services and increasingly
it was also becoming a large importer
of services. The Minister said that
“Switzerland is also a major
player in the world market for trade
in services. We must exploit these
complementarities by facilitating
establishment of businesses and
movement of professionals”.
Talking about Intellectual Property
Rights (IPRs), Kamal Nath said that
the MOU signed in this regard on
7 August 2007 was a positive step
on both sides to enhance cooperation.
“India respects IPRs and would
like to be seen as a country that
generates intellectual property.
We have undertaken an extensive
programme to develop capacities
in this sector and to increase the
awareness levels about intellectual
property”, he added.
The bilateral trade with Switzerland
during 2006-07 stood at US $ 9579
million. The main exports to Switzerland
are: gems & jewellery, drugs
& pharmaceuticals, RMG cotton,
machinery and instruments etc. The
main imports from Switzerland are:
gold, machinery (except electric
& electronic), medicinal &
pharmaceutical products, precious/semi-precious
stones etc. |
