Chandigarh BDS Cluster

Linking MSMEs with BDS providers—workshop on msmementor.in

Date: 16^th February 2011

Place: CII, Chandigarh

The project organized a workshop titled ‘msmementor.in—a web portal linking MSME industry with BDS providers/consultants’ in collaboration with Industries Association of Chandigarh (IAC) on 16^th February, 2011 at CII, Chandigarh. The event was attended by over 70 participants including representatives from the four major industry associations of the MPC cluster—namely, Industries Association of Chandigarh (IAC); Mohali Industries Association (MIA); Chamber of Chandigarh Industries (CCI); and Haryana Chamber of Commerce and Industry (HCCI). The aim of the workshop was to generate awareness on the benefits of the web portal msmementor.in and explain its usage to the participants.

Mr Arun Mahajan, President, IAC in his introductory remarks said that website portals like msmementor.in will play a pivotal role in the growth of MSMEs by linking them with qualified professionals. Mr. Pranav Haldea, Director- Business Development, PRIME Database Group, explained that msmementor.in is a new online platform developed by PRIME Database with the objective of providing MSMEs as well as professionals/ BDS providers with a simple, cost-effective and time-efficient means to identify and link up with one another. This web portal is a joint initiative of SIDBI, National Stock Exchange of India Ltd (NSE) and PRIME Database with State Bank of India as the Gold Sponsor and Union Bank of India as a Co-Sponsor. Initially, msmementor.in is providing enrolment and search services free of charge for professionals/ BDS providers and MSMEs respectively. Currently, over 11,200 professionals have enrolled on the website including engineers, academicians, chartered accountants, lawyers and management consultants. Mr Haldea urged BDS providers in and around the MPC cluster to register themselves on msmementor.in and offer their services to MSMEs across India.

An interactive session followed during which BDS providers and MSME entrepreneurs discussed various hurdles faced by industries in the MPC region and possible ways in which to overcome these barriers. The workshop ended with a vote of thanks by Mr C R Panesar, Cluster Manager, TERI–SIDBI Project Office, Chandigarh.